India signs sports pact with Cuba

New Delhi, Feb 5 (UNI) In an effort to improve competetiveness in Indian sports, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar has signed a bilateral agreement with Cuba.

Mr Aiyar and his counterpart Julio Cristian Jiminez signed the Sports Cooperation Agreement during the former's visit to the Central American country from February 1 to 4.

Cuba has agreed to send a top expert to visit India to study the Indian sports system and institutions over a period of one to three months and to submit a report to the two governments, a PIB release stated here today.

Cuba adopts an integrated approach in which sports are utilised to prepare the youth for future life through financial and employment alternatives to champions who may be phased off.

The minister was accompanied by officials from the Sports Ministry and former cricketer Robin Singh.

UNI