‘Promote sporting culture among Nagas’
Our Correspondent
Kohima | January 24
A two day long state level ‘Khelo India’ concluded here today at Indira Gandhi Stadium organized by Department of Youth Resources & Sports Nagaland under the aegis of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Altogether, 282 boys and girls under 14 and 17 years from 11 districts joined the tourney. The tournament was marked by football, volleyball, table tennis and badminton.
L. Kire, Commissioner & Secretary for Youth Resources & Sports gave away the prizes to the winners. The winners will represent the state at the forthcoming national level Khelo India in Chennai this year. Earlier at the opening ceremony on January 23, chief guest Parliamentary Secretary, Youth Resources & Sports, State Lotteries & Music Task Force Khriehu Liezietsu said ‘Khelo India’ is an opportunity for the state to harness talents from every nook and corner of the state who will feature in the national teams.
He urged upon the participants to participate effectively to translate ‘our dream’ to promote a sporting culture among the Nagas to make it a reality. Liezietsu also informed that the department is sending players in 10 sports discipline during the year 2016-17 to represent the state and compete in the national level. They are football, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, taekwondo, athletics, Judo, wrestling, archery and boxing.
‘Khelo India’ National programme for development of sports which is rooted to Gujarat’s Khel Mahakumbh Sports festival was launched on November 15, 2016 and is aimed at providing a holistic sports development to make India play irrespective of social, cultural and physical boundaries.
The Khelo India revolves around three objectives to identify talents from grass-root level, to help create sports infrastructure and to prepare sports persons to win medals in the international events/arenas as making International mark in the field of sports has a great bearing on the national moral and prestige.
Under Khelo India, 21 sports disciplines have been identified for competition out of which the states/UTs has to select 10 sports disciplines for conducting block, level, district level, state level competition to tape out the hidden talents of the country. Khelo India winners Football Under 14 Champion: Peren Runner up: Zunheboto Football Under 17 Champion: Dimapur Runner up: Longleng Volleyball Under 14 Boys Champion: Kohima Runner up: Wokha Volleyball Under 17 Girls Champion: Kohima Runner up: Tuensang Volleyball Under 17 Boys Champion: Kohima Runner up: Kiphire
