Shillong: In part to collaborate with the rest of the country, the state also celebrated the National Sports Day in Shillong after the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs again distributed cash packets to sports persons of the Olympic and Non-Olympic disciplines who won medals at the regional, national and international sports competitions and tournaments.
The celebration is in part to remember one of the star hockey players of the country Major Dhyan Chand.
The cash packets were distributed at a function held at the Soso Tham Auditorium and the sportsperson who were felicitated with cash packets this time were 469 in total and the amount distributed to them totalled at Rs. 1, 62,10, 750/-.
The Chief Guest on this day was the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya, Donald Philip Wahlang (IAS) in the presence also of the Under Secretary of Sports and Youth Affairs, Shivnash Awasthi(IAS), W.A.M Booth (IAS), Director of Sports and Youth Affairs, Matsiewdor War Nongbri (IAS), members of the Executive Committee of the Meghalaya State Olympic Association, coaches, parents, and young sportspersons.
In his speech as Chief Guest, D.P Wahlang reminded the sportspersons felicitated on this day that they should in turn be more driven to train harder so that they can represent and win medals when the State organises the North-East Olympic Games in October-November this year, which as a state on several occasions we have been lagging behind when we have to compete in such competitions.
Furthermore, Wahlang also urged the concerned officers of the department to take due notice and focus on a few requirements which are first to ensure that the recently held Talent Identification Scheme is completed and from this, he suggested that as a department opportunities are created also to start a scholarship for young sportspersons who wish to shine and do well in sports because he is aware that many households cannot support their children of they concentrate only in sports.
The second suggestion that Wahlang gave is on team sports for which he stressed that a group insurance scheme should be initiated, to safeguard them in the event of anything untoward, maybe these could be a few of the ways.
The third suggestion that Wahlang expressed is on the preparation of the State in organising the National Games, which as a State will see many sports venues which are required to be built, and after the infrastructure is made available he stressed that when the Games have ended there should already be an aim to prepare for special sports academies which are also equipped with sports hostels, which are absent in the state still, and it is necessary to consult and discuss with experts of any of the sports.
On this day the department also felicitated two female athletes who are quite elderly but who still compete in Marathons, these are Kmoin Wahlang and Shyamili Chakraborty, who even at an advanced age are still participating Marathons which will serve as an encouragement to all.
