Tamil Nadu government today announced various initiatives to promote sports, including establishing a world-class hockey stadium in Tuticorin at a cost of Rs seven crore.
A modern stadium with synthetic turf besides floodlights and water sprinklers will be established at Kovilapatti in the district where hockey is a favourite sport, a government press release here said.
Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has approved Rs seven crore for this purpose, it said.
She further allocated Rs 70 lakh towards setting up badminton academies in Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli and Dharmapuri districts with a view to attract more players.
Each academy will be allocated Rs 14 lakh towards setting up training facilities and procuring modern equipment. Training would be imparted to 15 players for 10 months in these academies, it added.
Government will also conduct more inter-university sports championships covering track events, badminton, basketball, hockey, kabaddi, tennis and table tennis, for which Rs one crore has been allocated, it said.
The government announced increase in the honorarium of sports coaches from Rs 8,000 to Rs 15,000.
