Goel flags off 8th Slum Yuva Daud

New Delhi, July 15 (IANS) Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel on Saturday flagged off the eighth Slum Yuva Daud marathon that started from Qutub Minar and ended at the Government boys and girls school playground here.

Member of Parliament Ramesh Bidhuri, Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprise Babul Supriyo and ace basketball players Divya, Prashanti, Akanksha and Pratima (prominently known as Singh Sisters) were also present during the event.

More than 3000 youth from Delhi slums participated and were cheered by Supriyo with songs before the marathon.

Addressing the participants, Goel said: "This is not just any other run but we are running for a better tomorrow, a New India where each youngster utilises his/her skills for nation building."

The Singh Sisters urged the youth to participate in sporting activities and promote healthy living. They cited sports and youth as two pillars of India's greatness.

Supriyo gave a thumbs up to the Sports Ministry's initiative of Slum Yuva Daud and called it an "innovative step" to tap young talent.

Goel also interacted with the participants via quiz contests and asked them to retain their shirts, medals and certificates as these would help them gain access to a mega programme being planned with all the participants of 11 Slum Runs.

The Slum Yuva Daud is part of the Adopt Slum Campaign initiated by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, which aims at highlighting the government's pro-people schemes among the masses.

The ninth Slum Yuva Daud is scheduled for Sunday where Power Minister Piyush Goel, MoS Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju and London Olympics bronze medallist wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt will be present at the Dr. Sahib Singh Verma Park in Dwarka Sector 16.