Shillong: After a gap of 16 years, the fourth edition of the Meghalaya Games 2022 will be held from May 2 to 6, Meghalaya State Olympic Association announced on Friday.
This edition will be the biggest yet, bringing together more than 2,600 athletes across 19 disciplines. There were around 1,500 sportspersons in 14 disciplines last time, in 2020.
The Meghalaya Games are the showcase sporting event in the state and the MSOA expressed its thanks to the state government, which is contributing Rs 2.23 crore to hosting it.
“It was a pathbreaking decision of the current government to bring back the mega-event in 2020, some 16 years since the Games were held,” MSOA Working President, John F Kharshiing told reporters.
“We thank the Meghalaya government for supporting the Games so that the young athletes will benefit and help us produce champions in the future at the national and international level,” he said.
Stating that this year’s Games will be held in the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted the lives of our athletes, the MSOA official said, “We are seeing so much enthusiasm from all districts to participate and the Games will only get bigger over time as the state government has committed to holding them on a regular basis.”
In 2020, the third edition was largely focused on the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex. This year, with extensive renovations going on there, most events will be held at the Sports Authority of India complex one the North-Eastern Hill University campus, which will also hold the closing ceremony. MSOA Vice-President, Bor Diengdoh, said the opening ceremony will be held at the Shillong Sports Association Stadium at First Ground, Polo.
This will be on May 3 with only a few events being held on the day prior due to logistical reasons. Meanwhile, MSOA General Secretary Finely Pariat said that, previously, the various state associations would hold standalone championships in their particular discipline, but the Meghalaya Games will act as a selection ground for the state’s athletes who will be chosen for national tournaments.
Other states in the North East, such as Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, already have statewide sporting events like these and they have been helpful in grooming talent and developing athletes’ skills.
