"Railways, being in the forefront of promoting sports and games in the country, should further vigorously make efforts to attract and recruit more players especially youngsters to the organisation so that more fillip to the sports in the country could be given," Bansal said while interacting with railway sportspersons here.
He also instructed the Railway Board to expedite the work on creating a sports cadre to realize the aspirations of Railway sportspersons.
Many sportspersons in railways are winners of Arjuna Padmashree, Dronacharya and Khel Ratna awards.
He said it is necessary to promote sports culture in the country and railways will continue to play a major role in this direction.
Referring to Olympic medalist wrestler Sushil Kumar, Bansal said sportspersons like Kumar, who is the only Indian to have won two medals back to back in Olympics, are a source of inspiration for others.
The Railway Minister said the suggestions made by sportspersons on various issues like training, duty hours, career aspects will be sincerely looked by the Ministry which will try to remove all impediments to a congenial atmosphere to railway sportspersons for ensuring their maximum output.