Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 18
The All India Football Association (AIFF) today made an official announcement regarding its decision to rename Junior National Girls Championship after Dr. T. Ao.
This was communicated to The Morung Express by K. Neibou Sekhose, President, Nagaland Football Association (NFA) and Executive Member, AIFF.
“It was unanimously decided that the Junior National Girls Championship will now be named in honour of the first Captain of the Indian Olympic Football Team (1948), Late Dr. T. Ao,’ stated AIFF secretary general Anilkumar P.
This renaming is a tribute to Late Dr. T. Ao’s outstanding contributions to Indian football, he added.
Communicating this to all the members of AIFF, AIFF secretary general recalled that such important decision was made during the AIFP Executive Committee Meeting followed by the AIR; Annual General Meeting, held on the 10th of September 2024 in Hyderabad.
“We look forward to your continued support and active participation in the upcoming tournaments under this new title,” Anilkumar added.
Meanwhile, Abu Metha, Secretary General of Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA) through X (Twitter) stated “The Junior National Girls Championships under the aegis of the All India Football Federation will now be named in honour of the legendary Dr. Talimeren Ao. Ao was India’s first ever Indian Olympic Captain in football; at the London Olympics in 1948.”
This good news couldn’t have come at a better time - in the midst of the ongoing Dr. T. Ao Inter-District Football Championships, he stated and thanked AIFF under the leadership of Kalyan Chaubey for such recognition.
“The recognition, though late, is most welcome. Ao’s contributions and achievements will continue to inspire generations. Well Done Nagaland Football Association, under Neibu Sekhose, for initiating the proposal,” Metha stated.
