Kohima, May 23 (MExN): Citizens in Kohima will soon have an Indoor Tennis Stadium, the first in the State Capital. The foundation stone for the Indoor Tennis Stadium was laid on May 23 by Nagaland CM Shürhozelie Liezietsu at the IG Stadium Complex. Organised by the Nagaland Tennis Association (NLTA) and Youth Resources and Sports Department, the fund for the Stadium has been allotted by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. David Kire, General Secretary of NLTA informed that 2.3 crores have been allotted and the stadium is expected to be completed in six months. C. Apok Jamir, President of the Nagaland Tennis Association, in his welcome address mentioned that the NLTA was formed in 1988 and received its affiliation to the All India Tennis Association in 1999. Following the affiliation the Association sent a few boys to the National Tennis Academy in Gurgaon for in depth training, out of which two boys are now playing professionally while one is coaching in Delhi. At present, 30 boys and girls are receiving regular coaching at the Tennis Complex, Dimapur. “In a short span of time, the players have improved so much so that during the Inter State National Tournament in Delhi, we were placed in the sixth position and again in 2016 at Chhattisgarh we got the bronze medal. This shows the immense potential of our boys and girls to compete at the highest level,” said Jamir who also informed that the NLTA team has left for Bhutan to participate in the Indo-Bhutan Friendship Tournament. Vila Khate and Keneisezotuo had won the tournament in 2015 and 2016 respectively. The Indoor stadium in Kohima will be the second Indoor Tennis Stadium in the State and the first for the State Capital. “This will definitely benefit the young players and even the old players as Tennis is a game played by all age groups, and keep us fit and healthy. We need such facilities in other districts too. We would like to request the government to set up an Academy for Tennis so as to provide coaching to the youth right from when they are very young,” Jamir urged. Lauding the NLTA for setting up the first Tennis Stadium in Kohima, Chief Minister Shürhozelie Liezietsu expressed hope that the stadium will enable the development of young talents. Sharing a brief history of the origin of Tennis, Liezietsu mentioned that the game was originated by the white people and ‘not by us’, where the game was played by royal families and aristocratic class of societies in the 12th and 13th Century. However with the sports gaining wide popularity and with professional players earning millions, Liezietsu also hoped that Nagas will catch up with the rest in the sport. “In Nagaland, I think we are still lacking facilities for young people. Because of lack of facilities even if we have talent among the younger generation, we are not in a position to fully develop our talents in many ways but with this beginning here in Kohima, you have made a good beginning here,” Liezietsu noted. The CM also reminded that the first Tennis Court in Kohima was set up in the present Commonwealth graveyard during the Colonial period where British officers played in the court. “That tennis court is famous because it was marked as the turning point of Japanese invasion in the country. It is part of history now, but with this beginning I hope our young talents will be developed so that we can also gain positions in the national arena,” Liezietsu concluded with optimism. The Association has also initiated a new course called the School Tennis where the Association coach is sent to the schools to provide coaching at a reasonable rate of Rs. 500 for interested students. In Kohima, G.Rio Higher Secondary School and Mewi Abode Higher Secondary school will be introducing School Tennis.