Sports Minister Dr MS Gill on Monday emphasised the popularity and importance of football while at the same time having at a dig at the quality of the game in the country.

“Football is popular and can be played by anyone, that’s why the government has upgraded it to category A in our priority list of games,” Gill said at a function to honour members of the team that reached the semifinals of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics by beating hosts Australia 4-2 in the quarterfinals.

New Delhi, Feb 2 : Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. M. S. Gill met members of the Anti Doping Disciplinary Panel, Anti Doping Appeal Panel and Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) Committee here today.

During the meeting, the panels have also been advised to seek the advice of the international experts also in the area of Anti Doping to make their efforts more effective.

New Delhi, Dec 18 : Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Dr. M. S. Gill today launched a Nationwide campaign of youth against terrorism and violence "Together For Peace".

This nationwide campaign has been planned by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, to reaffirm their commitment to peace and harmony.

Starting from the National Youth Day, January 12 upto January 30, 2009, a nationwide campaign would be launche to strengthen democratic, secular and pluralist character of our country.

New Delhi - Indian Sports Minister Manohar Singh Gill Friday opposed the national cricket squad's tour to Pakistan in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, a news report said.

It was not the right time to play cricket with Pakistan when "people from their soil were indulging in mass murder in India," the Press Trust of India news agency quoted Gill as saying.

The Indian government is yet to clear the cricket team's January 6 to February 19 tour to Pakistan.

"Is it possible for one team to arrive in Mumbai and indulge in mass murder, and have another team go and play cricket in the winter afternoon sun at Lahore, immediately after," Gill said.

New Delhi, Dec. 12 : The Union Sports Minister M S Gill has sent a strong message across the border by saying that Indian cricket team should not tour Pakistan in the wake of Mumbai terror attack.

Gill said that it is not the right time to play cricket with Pakistan when "people from their soil were indulging in mass murder in India".

"Is it possible for one team to arrive in Mumbai and indulge in mass murder, and have another team go and play cricket in the winter afternoon sun at Lahore, immediately after," he asked while addressing the media today .

New Delhi, Sept 19 : Newly constituted Governing Body of the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) met Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Dr. M. S. Gill here today.

During the meeting, the Governing body approved the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) Code for its application in India. It also approved Anti Doping Rules of NADA which are expected to come into force from October 1, this year.

These Rules will lay down all procedures and rules for sample collection, testing, sanction to be imposed and rights or responsibilities of athletes and supporting personnel.