Nagaland will bid for national sporting events, says Neiphiu Rio

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio Saturday disclosed that the state government would bid for more national game events to be hosted in Nagaland in order to attract more infrastructural developments in the sports sector.
Speaking at the Grand Finale of the South Asian Cross-Country Championships and 56th National Cross-Country Championships at IG Stadium here on Saturday, the chief minister said that the visiting officials during discussions suggested Nagaland should bid for hosting national games since Government of India and its agencies would help the State in infrastructural development if it was selected to host.
In this regard, Rio said the State government would also go consider and try to bid for more national events. He expressed hope that the political leaders and sportspersons in the State would support the stance of the government in that regard.
The chief minister expressed gratitude to the presidents of Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and South Asian Athletics Federation (SAAF) for choosing Nagaland to host this historic event. He said Nagaland was privileged to play host to the international event, which was a first-of-its-kind for the State.
Sharing his observations during the event, Rio said he was encouraged by the keen interest and enthusiasm in the eyes of the youth who had come to participate from all over the country and also from some South Asian countries.
While congratulating the winners, the chief minister thanked and appreciated all the participants many of whom had come to Nagaland for the first time.
He also lauded the participants from Nagaland who took part in the national event. He said that winning a medal for the State was a huge accomplishment. He hoped that these achievements would further nurture the hope in the youth.
Rio assured the visiting officials that Nagaland would focus on building infrastructure needed in developing sports in the State.
He wished the visiting guests and participants would have a comfortable stay and also take back good memories of the State when they go back to their respective places.
Earlier, delivering a short speech, president of SAAF and chairman of Planning Committee, Athletics Federation of India (AFI), Lalit K Bhanot congratulated the Naga athletes who had participated in the national event for the first time and performed well.
He lauded the chief minister Neiphiu Rio and associate vice president AFI Abu Metha for organising the events in such a manner that was not seen elsewhere across the country or even abroad.
He said the number of participants rising to over 700 athletes was remarkable as the event had earlier been postponed because of the pandemic.
Bhanot also thanked participants who had come all the way from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bangladesh to participate in the event although some other countries could not participate because of Covid protocols in their countries.
SAAF president said many athletes would draw encouragement through this event and would go to higher levels in the days to come.
In his short speech, president of AFI, vice president of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and council member of World Athletics, Adil Sumeriwala, said Nagaland hosting the event would surely encourage the athletes in the State and eventually nurture more youth to take interest in sports.
Sumeriwala said he was delighted to see so many young people filling up the stands during the event, which, he added, would generate enthusiasm.
AFI president also said he was pleased to see Nagaland win its first medal in the National Cross Country Championships. He said AFI was fully supportive of letting Nagaland host the event and had also sent a high performance coach to train the Naga athletes.
Sumeriwala said talents exist in Nagaland, adding that with the right support, the athletes could reach national and international levels.
He disclosed that AFI had various programmes such as the national inter-districts junior championship, which was the largest grassroots level championship in the world.
AFI president said he wished to see every district in Nagaland take part in this event which is totally sponsored by AFI.
He disclosed that the event was in its 17th year and had produced many star athletes in the country.
Urging the chief minister to open up high performance centres in all the districts of the State, AFI president assured to provide technical expertise in the construction.
Star athlete and senior vice president, AFI and World Athletics Woman of the Year, Anju Bobby George, in her brief remark, said Nagaland was surely going through one of its happiest moments as it was hosting an international event.
Anju, the only Indian to have won a medal in the World Championships with a long jump bronze in 2003, observed that Nagaland had put a lot of effort into the smooth functioning of the event, which she said was evident throughout the day.
She congratulated all the medal winners and hoped that the historic momentum would be a lasting one. Zonal head of Bank of Baroda, Debrabatta Das, also gave a short speech during the event.