Queen's Baton Relay in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur XIX common Wealth Games 2010

Queen's Baton Relay in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur XIX common Wealth Games 2010

Hamirpur: After paying obeisance at the famous 'Mata Jawalamukhi Shakti Peeth', where Food and Civil Supplies Minister Shri Ramesh Dhawala welcomed the Relay and was the frontrunner alongwith the Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) of XIX common Wealth Games, 2010, it reached Hamirpur today, where it was greeted with great enthusiasm and was accorded the traditional welcome by Deputy Commissioner Shri Abhishek Jain, Superintendent of Police Shri Kuldeep Sharma, Chairman, Municipal Committee, Shri Deep Chand including National and International sports figures, Office bearers of Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association ( HPOA), prominent citizens and thousands of children en-route Hamirpur on both side of the road waving Tricolour.

Education Minister, Shri Ishwar Dass Dhiman, who was the Chief Guest, received the Queen’s Baton Relay at Boys school, near bus stand Hamirpur together with Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Shri Ravinder Singh Ravi. The Minister in his inaugural address said that it was like a dream come true for the people of the Country as well as Himachal Pradesh who got an opportunity to carry the Queen’s Baton in their homeland. It was a matter of immense delight that after entering the Indian province at Wagah border, our State was the fourth in a row after Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Chandigarh who had the privilege of welcoming Queen’s Baton, adding that Himachal is the only State where Queen’s Baton stay is one of the longest for three days covering seven out of twelve districts.

He said that the state had produced sportsperson of repute who had excelled in various disciplines and represented India at National and International- level. As many as seven Arjuna awardees of different disciplines who belonged to Himachal Pradesh. We are proud to celebrate the achievement of one of the biggest sports extravaganza in our country which had provided an opportunity to the players of the State to associate themselves with the Common Wealth Games.

Earlier the QBR was taken from Government Degree College to the boys senior secondary school ground by ace runners which included National-level athlete and Gold medallist Ms Pushpa Thakur, International Volley Ball players Sh.Hem Singh and Sh. Manoj Kumar, Basket Ball player, Sh. Suresh Kumar, National level Judo player and Parshuram Awardee Ms Nutan Pathania representative of Hero Honda, Sh Virendar and International Volleyball Player Sh. Jagir Singh who finally entered the Stadium with the Baton at Government boys school.

The Nodal Officer of QBR in the State and Director youth Service and Sports Shri J.R. Katwal welcomed the Chief Guest and other dignitaries present on the occasion. He detailed out the history of Queen's Baton Relay and its significance.

Director QBR, Shri Kuldeep Banshtu, who himself is from Himachal Pradesh lauded the efforts of the State to take initiative to preserve the ecology. He said that the Common Wealth Games 2010 had been officially declared as the ‘Green Games’ which in its journey had been spreading the message of keeping the Nations Green and Clean to fight Global warming. Apart from this the main motive of the common wealth games was to unite the People of India with this important event. Earlier, the Children at various places en-route greeted Queen’s Baton with great zeal and gusto.

Deputy Commissioner, Shri Abhishek Jain proposed vote of thanks on the occasion. A colourful cultural function was also performed on the occasion.

President district BJP unit Shri Des Raj Sharma, President District Mahila Morcha, Smt Veena Sharma, Chairman Mandi Samiti, Shri Pyare Lal Sharma, Joint Director, DYSS, Ms, Suman Rawat, District Youth Services and Sports Officer, Shri Ved Prakash Upadhaya, Vice-Presidents, Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association (HPOA), Shri Sushil Bhardwaj and Vijay Rana, Joint Secretaries of HPOA, Shri Vinod Kumar and Shri Manish Sharma, member HPOA , Shri Satinder Trehan were also present on the occasion.