Youth expect better sports facilities

New Delhi: The residents of East and South Delhi constituencies, especially the youths, are expecting better sports facilities in their areas as both BJP and Congress have fielded star sports personalities.

Gautam Gambhir, the 2011 cricket world cup winning team member, is contesting from East Delhi on BJP ticket while Olympic medallist and professional boxer Vijender Singh is contesting from South Delhi as a Congress candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

“I do not have any faith on politicians but as Gautam Gambhir is contesting the election, I hope he will work for the betterment of the people, especially in the field of sports. Here in East Delhi, there is hardly any good sports ground left for the children, specially for the under privileged children who cannot afford to join any academy or club to fulfil their dreams of becoming sports star,” said Rajender Singh Negi, a resident of Khichripur resettlement colony.

“Sports keeps youths engaged and discourages them from getting involved in bad company. When we were young, we used to play at the local football club for the underprivileged children run by a local football lover in Trilok Puri. But the school ground has shrunk as new school building has been constructed there. Now, our children do not have any ground and we don’t have money to send them to the Mayur Vihar Phase 2 sports complex. I hope Gautam Gambhir, apart from his political agenda, will work on this area and do something to promote sports being a sportsman himself,”said Om Prakash Dhawan, a resident of Trilokpuri area. Meanwhile in South Delhi, Olympic medallist Vijender Singh has given a ray of hope to the youth who are inspired by his success.

“Vijender is the poster boy of Indian boxing and as he has got ticket from this seat, I firmly believe that he will work to improve the sports facilities and infrastructure in South Delhi. The present MP of BJP, Ramesh Bidhuri, has undertaken several developmental works in my area such as establishment of a shooting range and commencement of construction of country’s first rugby ground at Maidan Garhi. But Vijender, who is himself a sportsperson, will work more for the betterment of sports facilities,” said Hitesh Mohan, a former Delhi football player and a Munirka resident.