NEC Tamchon Football Tournament 13th Edition

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 11 (MExN): Indian Air Force beat the defending champions SSPP FC 2-0 in the 13th NEC Tamchon football tournament which drew to a close in Delhi on November 9.

The tournament was organized by the Tangkhul Naga Society Delhi (TNSD). It is a yearly event, held in memory of a young former police officer (ACP) of the Delhi Police, late RN Tamchon. The tournament is strongly bound by its ideals to bring together and uplift the North-East community. 

The theme of the tournament is 'Unity, Friendship, Understanding and Sportsmanship’. This year the event was sponsored by NEC Ministry of DoNER, COSCO, Oil India Limited, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and Ministry of Home Affairs.

The closing ceremony was graced by Kiran Rijiju, Minister of State (IC)of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports & Minister of State in the Ministry of Minority Affairs of India. He was also felicitated by NEC and TNSD at the event. Rijiju mentioned about NE being remarkable in sports and his dreams of promoting it to international level. In his speech he added, “I’m delighted to see football fever gripping into our capital city of Delhi. Football is a religion in North-East India. I’m excited to watch the final match of Tamchon Football Tournament between Indian Air Force and SSPP FC.”

Some special guests of the event were Soso Shiza, Member, NCW; Hibu Tamang, IPS; Haulianlal Guite, IAS, Additional Commissioner- Commercial Taxes; the eldest son of the six-time World Boxing Champion, MC Mary Kom; Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) & Olympic Medalist and others. 

Four Indian Air Force officials—Air Commodore JB Rane, Group captain Deepak Ahluwalia, Wing Commander Vikas Sing and A.U Singh with other Air Force personnel were present to witness the final match of their team Indian Air Force against SSPP FC.

There were many talented musical and cultural extravaganzas in the event by various vocal artists, dance troops such as Tangkhul Naga traditional dance by New Tusom Katamnao Long, Manipur and Lebang Boomani and Hojagiri Traditional Dance by Tripura Students Forum, Delhi. The theme song of the tournament ‘Go Light Your World’ was led by the United NE Choir.

“We organized this event to encourage and give platform to the young footballers from North-East, so that they can step on to higher sports platform. At the same time, to bring solidarity among the people of North-East in Delhi and also to connect ourselves with other people in Delhito build some kinds of integrity and uniformity in our country,” said Yaruingam Awungshi, President Tangkhul Naga Society Delhi.

The 15 days tournament was participated by 16 football teams.