DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday (Nov 20) said her government undertook projects to popularize tennis alongside cricket and football by developing tennis courts at school, college and university levels.

She said: “The people of the country are very much familiar with football and cricket. But tennis is also an important game. We will provide assistance so that universities, colleges and schools can set up tennis courts to flourish this game.”

Sheikh Hasina was speaking to the players of the participating countries in Sheikh Russell International Club Cup Tennis Tournament 2019 and diplomats of the respective countries when they called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban.

Khulna district administration in collaboration with Cabinet Division and the Ministry of Youth and Sports arranged the six-day tournament marking the birth anniversary of Sheikh Russell - the youngest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The premier said her government wants more inter-university, inter-college and inter-school tennis tournaments be arranged in the country.

She put emphasis on hosting more international tournaments in the country as foreign players apart from local players participate in the tournaments. “It’s good for both local and foreign boys and girls as they get a scope to know each other,” she added.

Prime Minister congratulated the players of 19 countries for participating in the Sheikh Russel International Club Cup Tennis Tournament-2019. She also thanked the organisers for successful arrangements of the tournament in Khulna.

Youth and Sports Secretary Md Akhter Hossain, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel and lawmakers from Khulna Abdus Salam Murshedy and Sheikh Jewel attended the occasion.

BDST: 1845 HRS, NOV 20, 2019
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