Haryana Govt appoints Babita Phogat, Kavita Devi as Sports Deputy Directors

New Delhi, July 31: The Haryana government has appointed Indian wrestler Babita Phogat and Kabaddi player Kavita Devi as deputy directors in the Sports and Youth Affairs Department.

 

 

 

Both the athletes, in two separate orders issued on July 29 by the principal secretary of the Haryana Government's Sports and Youth Affairs Department had applied to the state government for these posts. Hence, they were appointed as deputy director (Sports) under the Haryana Outstanding Sportspersons (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) rules, 2018.

 

It is mentioned in the order that both have to report on duty in the Directorate, Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Haryana, Panchkula within 30 days. After the appointment, Phogat took to Twitter to thank Chief Minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar, and Haryana Sports Minister Sandeep Singh.

 

 

Commonwealth Games medallist Phogat said, "I take it as a responsibility which has been entrusted to me by the government. Being a player, I will work to ensure that players get all the facilities they need, whether it is related to their practice or diet so that they can focus on their game and work." Further, the 30-year-old said, "no matter how much we do, there is always a scope for improving things. As a sports person, I do not want that our players should face the problems that we had to face, be it related to diet, coaches or players' practice."

 

Replying to a question, she said she was looking forward to working with Sports Minister Sandeep Singh, a former Indian hockey team captain. "It is an advantage when you have a sportsperson heading the Sports Department in the state. He is more connected to things and knows things at ground level and how these can be improved. We will work together and take Haryana's sports to new heights," she added.

 

Earlier, Phogat had worked as a sub-inspector in Haryana Police before resigning. She decided to join the BJP. Meanwhile, Kavita, is a Kabaddi player who was member of the India national Kabaddi team that won gold medal in 2014 in the Incheon Asian Games. The terms and conditions of their appointments include a bar on making commercial endorsements.