UP contingent leaves for Guwahati

Lucknow, Feb 6 (UNI) A strong contingent of over 300 from Uttar Pradesh will participate in the 33rd National Games to be held at Guwahati.

Almost 81 members of the contingent have left for Guwahati by the Awadh- Assam Express today, while the rest will depart in a faced manner according to their schedule.

Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association (UPOA) general secretary Anandeshwar Pandey said the 50 member athletic squad including 25 men, 17 women, 5 coaches and 3 officials is the biggest. ''UP will participate only in 19 games out of 31 to be held during the 10 day event from Feburary 9 to 18 next.'' International wrestler Anuj Chowdhary will be the flag bearer in the inaugural ceremony of the games.

In a brief ceremony here today at the K D Singh Babu Stadium, Senior vice president of the newly elected Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association (UPOA) Ranjit Singh Judeo, handed over the UPOA flag to the Chef-de- Mission Kunwar Fateh Bahadur Singh. Pramod Kumar, the joint secretary of UPOA, will act as his deputy.

The Babu Banarasi Das group of Educational Institute Chairman in a very short notice sponsored the Kits and both ways railway fare to the participating members while Managing Director of Gorakhpur based Hotel President D P Yadav gave Rs 51,000 to the UPOA.

BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Kalraj Mishra extended his well wishes for the success to the participating squads as well as individuals.

UNI