Ludhiana: A first-of-its-kind sports facility at the Blind School in Jamalpur is proving a boon for the visually-impaired students studying here.The fitness hub comprises gymnasium, activity room, football ground, multi-purpose ground for cricket, football, discus throw, shot put, athletics track, cricket net practice pitch, long jump etc.Constructed at a cost of around Rs 42 lakh, this sports facility was inaugurated by cabinet minister OP Soni. The school is being run by the department of social security and development of women and children, Punjab.Superintendent and in-charge of the Government Institute for Blind, Manjinder Singh, informed that the complex houses the Blind School, Braille Press and Teacher Training Centre. He said that ever since the sports facility has been inaugurated, a large number of students have been availing its many benefits and maintaining fitness.Singh said that besides providing quality education to the visually-impaired students, special emphasis is laid on motivating them to participate in various sports activities. “One such student is Kapil Dev. An alumnus of the school, he is now an international level cricket player. Kapil Dev had also participated in the T-20 India vs Sri Lanka cricket match that took place in the city last year,” said Singh.At present, around 64 visually impaired students are studying in the Blind School and all the expenses of these students are borne by the Punjab government. Singh said that the recently developed sports facility has been constructed keeping in mind the needs of the visually-impaired. He added that the gymnasium and activity room are already functional, while the construction of the sports grounds is going on in full swing and would be completed soon.

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