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.<br/>' <br/>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. <br/><br/>He further said sport is one such field that contributes to these moments when our own sons and daughters represent in the world championships.<br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>Mr Naidu also conferred the Life Time Achievement Award to veteran Badminton player Prakash Padukone.''''<br/>