National Games from September 16

The National Games, to be held in Punjab from September 16, will be spread over five different venues, with Ludhiana hosting the opening and closing ceremonies.

Union Chemicals Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, who is also president of Punjab Olympic Association, on Saturday, said President K R Narayanan will inaugurate the Games on September 16 while the closing ceremony would be presided over by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, on September 29.

Ludhiana will organise athletics, hockey (women), basketball and cycling while Jallandhar will stage football, badminton, wrestling, table tennis and hockey (men).

Patiala will be the venue for gymnastics, boxing, swimming, kho-kho, weightlifting and kabaddi while fencing will be hosted by Anandpur Sahib, and shooting will be held at Mohali.

Dhindsa told reporters after a meeting of the core committee that a team of technical experts will inspect all the venues on May 18 and 19.

Nearly 7,000 sports persons and officials are expected to take part in 28 disciplines of the Games, for which a budget of Rs 450 million had been allocated, Dhindsa said.