In a bid to promote adventure sports and allied tourism activities in a big way to make Haryana one of the most sought-after destinations, the Manohar Lal Khattar Government has constituted “Milkha Singh Adventure Sports Club” named after the country’s ace sprinter.

The legendary athlete had passed away on June 18, this year after a month-long fight with Covid-19.

The club has been established under the existing Haryana Academy of Adventure Sports (a registered society) with an aim to introduce, promote and develop adventure sports in the State along with creation of training facilities for adventure sports and to develop quality infrastructure.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had in June announced to constitute a club to promote adventure sports and name it after Flying Sikh Milkha Singh.

According to the notification issued by AK Singh, Haryana Principal Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs Department, “Sports and Youth Affairs Minister will be president of the managing committee of the club while Administrative Secretary of the Department will be its vice president.” The 11-member committee will also have Administrative Secretaries of Tourism, Forest and Wildlife Department, Civil Aviation Department as its members to ensure coordination between the concerned Departments to give a boost to adventure sports activities in the State.

“The club is entrusted with the task to organise training, coaching and excursion tours in adventure sports, including ground sports, aero sports and water sports and undertake creation of adventure sports training facilities in mountaineering, trekking, rock climbing, snow skiing, cycling, motorcycling, car races etc; aero sports training facilities in parasailing, paragliding, hang gliding, hot air ballooning, wind surfing, sky diving etc; undertake creation of adventure water sports training facilities in canoeing, kayaking, rafting, surfing, sailing etc in sea, rivers, lakes and other water bodies,” the notification stated.

It will undertake setting up of adventure sports training centres, academies, satellite centres, base camps etc and coordinate with such institutions in the country and abroad and also, explore collaboration with National Adventure Club (India), India Mountaineering Foundation among other such organisations.

Apart from this, the club will also provide bursaries or fellowships to assist individuals in pursuing advance training for excellence in adventure sports and encourage the private sector to contribute financially to the development of such facilities. It will also undertake a certificate course in adventure sports coaching, lifeguard in water sports, sports management to general employment opportunities, according to the notification.

Notably, the Chief Minister had in the month of September launched adventure sports such as parasailing, paramotor and jet scooter at Tikkar Taal, Morni Hills in Panchkula district under State Government’s ambitious plan on development of adventure sports activities to promote tourism in Haryana.

The State Government is now exploring the possibility of starting water sports activities in Brahma Sarovar, Karnal lake, Damdama lake, Tiliyar lake among other water bodies.