Puducherry, December 29: Tennis star Leander Paes proposes to set up a sport, science and medicine centre in Puducherry.
Disclosing this to newspersons after a meeting with Chief Minister V Vaithilingam here this evening, he said people of Puducherry have a healthy lifestyle, full of energy and there would not be much distraction to sportspersons here. That was why he picked Puducherry to set up the centre, he said.
He said the centre would help develop talents of youths to play at international level and would also help boost sports tourism in the union territory, besides creating job oppertunities.
The Chief minister told newspersons that Paes had sought some help and he had given the suggestion of the government. Leander would get back to him later. The administration was ready to provide the possible assistance, he added.
Sports Minister Malladi Krishna Rao and Chief Secretary Chandra Mohan were present on the occasion.
Leander later met Higher Education and PWD Minister M O H F Shajahan seperately and held discussions with him.
–Agencies