Tihar inmates to be professionally trained in sports under Delhi prisons dept's new initiative

Delhi Prisons Department will soon kick-start a new initiative to impart professional training to inmates of Tihar Jail in various sports, officials said on Sunday.

Prison officials said two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, lodged in Tihar jail after being arrested in Chhatrasal Stium brawl case which led to death of anor wrestler, will also be allowed to engage in activities as a participant if he shows interest.

"Sushil Kumar is trained in wrestling but if he shows interest in playing bminton, volleyball or any or sports which is being organised under new initiative, we will allow him to actively engage as a participant," a senior jail official said.

This is first time that inmates of Tihar jail will be trained in sports with help of coaches in a more professional and scientific manner, jail officials said. Under initiative, sponsored by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) as part of ir CSR project, inmates will be trained in six sports -- Kho-Kho, volleyball, bminton, basketball, chess and carrom, y said.

According to jail ministration, IOCL will send professional coaches to Tihar twice a week to train interested inmates in each of se selected games.

y will also provide necessary sports equipments and jerseys for 20 inmates in each sports, a senior jail official said.

Director General (Delhi Prisons) Sandeep Goel said in collaboration with IOCL, inmates will be soon trained by professional coaches in various sports.

"Such activities will help create a positive and healthy atmosphere inside prison. It will channelise ir energy in a positive direction and most importantly, will help in keeping mselves both physically and mentally fit as well as healthy," he said.

Jail officials said interested inmates and those who are alrey trained in such sports will be trained by professional coaches so that y can furr engage or inmates in se games.

y said female inmates lodged in central jail number six will be trained in bminton, chess and carrom.

It will also help se inmates in enhancing ir performance in ir annually held inter-jail sports competitions, he said.

In near future, such professional sports activities will be initiated in jails of Rohini and Mandoli as well, jail officials said.

According to prison officials, for over a month now, no new Covid cases has been reported among inmates or staffs Tihar, Rohini and Mandoli jails.

According to a latest data shared by authorities, 13,560 Covid vaccine doses have been ministered to inmates in all three jails, of which 11,609 were first doses and 1,951 were second jabs.

total number of inmates and staff in all three jails is 17,100, prison officials said.