Haryana will host 26th All India Forest Sports Meet from 10 March to 14 March at Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Sector-3, Panchkula.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar released the ‘Logo and Mascot’ of the Meet, named Krish, at his residence Sant Kabir Kutir on Saturday. About 2,500 participants from all states, Union ministry of environment and forests, Union Territories are expected to participate.

Different sports teams will be formed by appointing players to the post of Forest Guard in Group C in the Forest Department.

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forest organises the All India Forests Sports Meet annually to promote sports in the forest department.

The logo for the meet prominently displays ‘Black Buck’ – a magnificent animal that finds prominent place in our history and culture and is also the state animal of Haryana. The state map in the logo depicts that Haryana, which is hosting the sports meet is at the forefront of sports and one of the fast-progressing states in all fields.

The main venue for the 26th All India Forest Sports Meet will be Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Sector-3, Panchkula. Most of the events will be organised in the stadium which include athletic events like race, walk, relays, hurdles, discuss throw, javelin throw, hammer throw, long jump, high jump, shot put, triple Jump; indoor games like badminton, carom, table tennis, chess and field games including basketball, cricket, hockey, kabaddi, volleyball and tug of war.

Apart from this, golf will be played at Golf Club, Sector-3, Panchkula, while lawn tennis, bridge, snookers, billiard and squash will be played at Gymkhana Club, Sector- 6, Panchkula. Archery competition will be held at sports ground, Panjab University, Chandigarh and the shooting event will be organised at Shooting Range, Chandigarh. Further, weight lifting competition will be held at Government College, Sector 1, Panchkula.

There will be about 285 different sports events that will be played in the meet in open, veteran and senior veteran categories; both for men and women participants. While everyone can participate in the open category, the veteran and senior veteran categories have been made especially for participants above 45 and 52 years of age respectively.

About 2,500 participants comprising 43 teams from 36 states and Union territories and 7 research institutes and organizations are expected to participate in the sports meet.