The official mascot of the South Asian Cross Country Championships and 56th National Cross Country was released on Tuesday. “A joyous happy running Hornbill,” Nagaland Athletics tweeted and posted the picture of the mascot. “Akimji - a connotation of the word AMBITION - as this event exemplifies the AMBITION of the new generation of Naga youth,” the tweet read. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter@NagaAthletics)
South Asian Cross Country Championships and 56th National Cross Country championships in Kohima on March 26
Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 22
Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA) Secretary General, Abu Metha today said that South Asian Cross Country Championships and 56th National Cross Country championships will take place in Kohima on March 26.
The championship will be held under the aegis of South Asian Athletic Association and Athletics Federation of India in consultation with Government of Nagaland.
“The Athletic Federation of India in its quest to promote athletics and sports all over the country, to develop athletics in the northeast, has taken the decision to bring big events to the northeast, to conduct game development in the northeast, to develop athletes and sports fraternity in the northeast,” Metha, who is also Associate Vice President of Athletics Federation of India and Advisor to Chief Minister of Nagaland told the press conference at Talimeren Conference Room of NOA office complex here.
Today, he said, India is emerging as a sporting nation. It is the aspiration of the Indian Olympic Association and the Athletics Federation of India that India becomes a sporting superpower within the decade.
“That dream and that aspiration is coming through with every passing year. The excellent performance of the Indian contingent in the recent Tokyo Olympics which was powered by gold medal by Neeraj Chopra in athletes showcase Indians emergence in sports,” he said adding that even now “we have many athletes winning in national and international level.”
He said that India is looking forward to excellence and record breaking performances in the forthcoming Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games which are going to take place this year. China is going to host the Asian games and United Kingdom is going to host the Commonwealth Games.
In its quest to develop the sports in northeast, AFI have earlier given the hosting rights of the South Asian Cross Country Championships and 56th Cross Country National Championships to Nagaland.
Expecting participants from every affiliated states, all South Asian countries
“We are looking forward to this event and we are thankful to Government of Nagaland under the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for coming forward and giving mandate for hosting this event,” he said thanked the latter for extending full support and sponsorship of this event.
This event was supposed to be held earlier but because of the pandemic it had to be postponed and finalized on March 26 in Kohima. The event will be flag off at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima.
“We are expecting participants from every affiliated states of India, every affiliated Union Territory. We have also received confirmation of participation from all the South Asian countries and formalities are underway to clear the visa and permit for them to come and participate here,” he said.
Metha said that the event is going to be perhaps Nagaland’s biggest ever sporting event in 50 plus years of the statehood.
“Nagaland has not hosted an international event up till now. Moreover this event is a recognized event under the Athletics Federation, of India, the Indian Olympic Association and the Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs,” he said adding that the ministry has already given its clearance and its approval for conduct of this event.
SAAF annual general meeting in Kohima
“We will also be having officials, delegates from all these (South Asian) countries to be attending this event and the Annual General meeting of the South Asian Athletics Federation will take place in Kohima. That itself is a landmark and we are hopeful that various issues that are discussed for development of sports will not only benefit the northeast but Nagaland as well,” he said.
We are looking forward to a successful unique and a very different championship, he said and appealed all sections of sporting and non sporting and people from all walks of life to come forward and to support the event, to participate in the event and make it a grand success.
“We feel that this event will propel the image of Nagaland as a brand Nagaland and Nagaland sporting dream towards national and international platforms,” he said.
Anju Bobby George, PT Usha to arrive before event
Former world athletics medalist Anju Bobby George and former Asian Champion PT Usha will also be part of the event.
They are expected to arrive before the event and interact with the young sports persons of Nagaland and North East.
He said that Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who is also president of NOA and convenor of the organizing committee of the event have already extended invitation to number of delegates and dignitaries and invited Union Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs Anurag Thakur to be honoured guest.
“The AFI will ensure that the sports stars come here and participate in the event and use their presence to motivate the youngsters,” Metha said.
‘Use various facilities at NOA office complex’
Metha said that various facilities have been made available at the NOA office complex.
“All these facilities are now being used by actively by various sports association of the state,” he said adding that these facilities belongs to the youth of Nagaland, it belongs to the sports fraternity of Nagaland and youngsters across the state.
“Every youngsters, every sports administrators and every member of the sports fraternity is the stakeholder in this facility and we look for greater participation from all sections in the various activity that is coming up. We look forward to the association of the sports fraternity,” he said.
Further, Metha said that such facilities have been created to empower youth and to take sports in Nagaland forward.
