Dehradun, Dec 29 (PTI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday inaugurated a state-level Khel Mahakumbh at the Maharana Pratap Sports Stadium here, saying the event would provide a platform for youths to display their sporting talent.

The event is being organised to prepare talented sportspersons for the National Games, he said.

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The chief minister said making Uttarakhand a leading state was not possible without empowering its youth.

The state government's new sports policy -- which emphasises on honing the skills of young sporting talents and preparing them for national and international events -- is a step in that direction, Dhami said.

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The state government has also decided to revive the sports quota in government jobs, he added.

Dhami also announced a hike in the amount paid to those who finish on the podium at nyaya panchayat-, block-, district- and state-level sporting events.

During the occasion, he also inaugurated a shooting range.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)