Chennai, July 12 (IANS): In a major boost for sports in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has ordered setting up of badminton academies, conduct of inter-university sports meets and building a hockey stadium in Tuticorin.

In a statement issued here Friday, the government said Jayalalithaa has ordered setting up of badminton academies in Chennai, Madurai, Cuddalore, Tiruchirapalli and Dharmapuri districts at a total outlay of Rs.seven million.

The academies will train badminton players and will also take care of the expenses incurred by the sportsmen while participating in tournaments. Each academy will have video clippings of training schedules for the players to watch and improve their game.

The chief minister has also ordered conduct of sports competitions among the universities in the state.

Inter-university meets will be held for athletics, badminton, basketball, volleyball, tennis, football, hockey, kabaddi, table tennis and tennis. Similar events for private universities will also be conducted, the statement added.

With hockey being a popular sport in the port city of Tuticorin, around 600 km from here, the government has decided to build a hockey stadium with artificial turf at an outlay of Rs.70 million, it said.