This article relates to the various sports activities going on in Chandigarh. Being a union territory, Chandigarh enjoys funds from both states. Sports activities have been started taking seriously in the city. In the last 5 years ,immense progress has been noticed in the area of sports. Most importantly, the youth is taking keen interest in the upliftment of sports activities in the city.
Lets start with football. Chandigarh boasts of a full size football stadium in sector 17.Varous tournaments involving several players from all over the city and also from different states take place here..These tournaments are organized by Chandigarh football association. Every year ,an open tournament is organized in this stadium in which any team comprising of players only from the city is organized in May. This is considered to be one of the most reputed tournaments played in the city. The best players of the city take part in this. National selectors come to watch the final every year and select players from here for national level tournaments. Thus, the level of football and the situation is quite good.
Talking about hockey, the city players are pretty happy with the facilities provided by the administration. Chandigarh has an international level stadium in sector 42..Practice sessions go on all round the year over here. Young boys are takin keen interest in this game. many matches of the IHL were also played in the sector 42 stadium.
Chess players are also doing well in the city. Even though it’s a non popular sport, it has really picked up pace in the city. Every year ,St. Xaviers(sector 44) hosts a state level tournament in its campus. It is an open tournament. In addition to this ,coaching classes of chess are on the rise too. Young players are keen on learning the game.
Lawn tennis is one of the most celebrated games of the city. Many coaching institutes have opened all over the city where proper training of the game is given. Even though it’s an expensive game, young kids are in a large number who are taking coaching for this game..The main centre of lawn tennis is CLTA(CHANDIGARH LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION)in sector 10. The best courts are available here. It has 2 synthetic and two clay courts. Coaching is given in CLTA at a regular basis. There is no dearth of tournaments all over the year of this game. A number of AITA (ALL INDIA TENNIS ASSOCIATION) and ITF (INTERNATIONAL TENNIS FEDERATION) tournaments are organized here. Many players of all age groups take part in this.
Badminton is another game in which the youth is doing really well in Chandigarh. National level courts are there in the sports complex in sector 42.The complex has three wooden indoor courts. Experienced and deserving coaches give training over here. The administration organizes state level tournaments once or twice a year and thereby selects deserving players to play at a further level. All age groups play this game in the city.U -16,U-19 and men’s national trials take place here.
Thus, the present condition and future of sports in Chandigarh is bright. The level has improved a lot in the last 5 years and will better in the coming years.
