Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren announced that a football stadium with a capacity of 75,000 people will be built in Imphal West in collaboration with Indian Railway, and that land has been identified for the project. Another eighth football field will be constructed.
He said the state government, as the people’s government, had been giving the utmost emphasis on the sports sector. He continued that the state is facing various challenges from the drug menace, which poses a great threat to the youth and society, and as such, the sports movement is very necessary to save the youth.
The Chief Minister was addressing the observance of Sanaroishingee Numit, (players’ day) 2023, organised on Saturday at the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex.
Biren Singh further stated that Sanaroishingee Numit (Players’ Day) is being observed in the state as a recognition of the dedication and achievements of the veteran sportspersons of the state. He maintained that the state government had been taking various initiatives to develop the sports sector in the state.
He further informed that Mary Kom Boxing Academy had been opened. Another academy for Laishram Sarita has also been opened, and the state government is in the process of constructing a hostel for the academy.
He further informed that funds had also been allocated to the budget for setting up a training centre for weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu. Stating that many football players from the state are representing the country, he also informed that the government had concluded its talks with the All-India Football Federation to set up a football academy in the state.
The Chief Minister mentioned the Manipur Olympian Park, which is being built in Sangaithel to honour the state’s Olympians, and stated that the park will also have an excellent training centre to provide training facilities.
Biren announced the launch of a pension scheme for unemployed athletes and coaches aged 60 and up who have represented the state at the national and international levels. Informing that Manipur Start Up 2 had been launched, he added that coaches interested in training classes or an academy for training in certain disciplines may apply to the Start-Up scheme.
He also informed that Chief Minister Akhannaba Sanaroisingi Tengbang (CMAST) had been launched with an outlay of Rs. 7.36 crore.
The Chief Minister also advised the young players on the importance of education and sports to achieve success in life. He also stressed the need for proper planning and a systematic way of grooming the young sports players of the state to achieve more medals in different tournaments.
He urged all the stakeholders in the sports sector to do away with self-interest and work as a team to develop the sports sector for future generations.
Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Govindas Konthoujam stated that the state has been observing Sanaroishingee Numit since the year 2000, to mark the achievements of the players of the state in the 5th National Games hosted by the state. He went on to say that, despite its small size in the northeast, Manipur is a strategic state known for its contributions to games and sports.
During the program, four of the state’s senior players were honoured and congratulated. The players were footballers L. Nabakumar, Laishram Ramkumar, the senior most athletic player, H. Jamuna Devi, and N. Ramjoy Singh. Regular Coaching Classes (RCC) coaches were also honoured.
The Chief Minister also felicitated gold medal winners in the Khelo India Youth Games 2023, held in Madhya Pradesh.
As part of the observation, the Chief Minister flagged off a players’ run, in which many young players from the state took part.
