Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has said people must encourage children and youth to take up sports as a profession and government must support it. Inaugurating the Dr. Akhilesh Das Gupta India Open Badminton tournament in New Delhi today, Mr Naidu said the Sacred Fire of the Yagna of nation-building is the intense combination of aspirations, emotions and excitement of more than a billion souls which unite and throb into a single heart beat called, BHARAT in certain moments of time. He further said sport is one such field that contributes to these moments when our own sons and daughters represent in the world championships. The Vice President said sports can contribute to nation building in a huge way by not only fostering the spirit of Indian-ness but also in creating facilities and infrastructure. Mr Naidu also conferred the Life Time Achievement Award to veteran Badminton player Prakash Padukone.