Rajnath sets target of 300+ medals for personnel at next world

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today set a target of 300 plus medals for sports personnel of various police forces at next year's World Police Games and assured the government help for their training.
Speaking at a felicitation ceremony of sports personnel at the Intelligence Bureau headquarters here, he expressed happiness that women had outnumbered men in the medals tally at the recent edition of the Fairfax World Police and Fire Games held at Virginia in the US from June 26-July 5.
The Indian contingent, comprising 50 sports personnel drawn from various paramilitary and state police forces, won 156 medals -- 88 Gold, 49 Silver and 19 Bronze.

During the function, Secretary of All India Police Sports Control Board (AIPSCB) P K Bhardawaj highlighted some difficulties faced by central police forces which included withdrawal of authority to directors general of paramilitary forces to appoint any sportsperson at the rank of Inspector or Deputy Superintendent of police.
In other states, the police chief can make appointments at such a level and also by relaxing the age and education criteria, Bhardawaj said.
Singh assured that this would be removed as soon as a proposal is sent to him by the AIPSCB.

"I can assure that the government will leave no stone unturned for welfare and promotion of sports in the police forces and I am hopeful that the medal winners will bring laurels to the country in Olympic Games to be held in Brazil in August next year," he said.

"You have won 157 medals this year and I set you a goal of a triple century plus for the next games," the Home Minister said and asked Chairman of AIPSCB Dineshwar Sharma, who is Head of Intelligence Bureau, to ensure that all proposals reach him as soon as possible.
Among the medal winners, Punjab police personnel won 17 including eight Gold. Individually, India performed in seven sports events -- Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Judo, Swimming, Shooting and Wrestling and stood at number 11 in the overall rankings. The US topped the chart with 1808 medals.