Imphal, September 13, 2009: State sportsperson, Athokpam Suresh who won three gold medals in the National Wheel Chair Fencing Tournament, 2009 held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Tamil Nadu was felicitated by the All Manipur Anti-Drug Association (AMADA) today.

In the felicitation of Suresh who is also a player of the AMDA held today at the head office of AMADA at Keishampat Laisom Leirak, former MLA Laisom Ibomcha and AMADA general secretary Ph Phoni attended as chief guest and president respectively of the function.

Former MLA, L Ibomcha speaking on the occasion expressed gratitude when Suresh who was drown in intoxicated item before his mother handed over her to AMADA become a good sportsperson and won in medals in several championship he participated.

It is a credit of the AMADA campaigning for the elimination of intoxicated items from the soil of the state for making an ideal society given to the people of the state, he said.He also observed that by the effort of the AMADA, today use of intoxicated items by the people of the state have been reduced to some extend.

The support extended by many civil bodies is the prize of sincere efforts of the body.

He also stressed of encouraging sportspersons with disabilities like Suresh with special package and reserving seats for them.

He said state government is not reserving any seat for them even though Indian Constitution includes provision for providing three percent reservation for them.

Deputy secretary, youth affairs and sports of AMADA, P Jiban said the body while campaigning against intoxicated items using sports as an arm to divert the mind of the youths from drugs and other harmful things.

He said Athokpam Suresh son of Manihar of Top Awang Leikai was not a handicapped person by birth, he became a handicapped person after an ill-fated incident in his early childhood.

As a youngest of three sons of Manihar, he brought as naughty boy.

He was addicted to SP capsule.

His mother Manishang handed over her son to the AMADA in February 2007 with a view to rectify his habit.

The day became his first day to go on with sports and remain away from intoxicated items.Thus, today, he brought Laurence of the state.

Suresh had won silver and bronze medals in the Disabled Paralympics National Athletic Tournament held at Jaipur in July 2007.He also represented India in the Wheel Chair Fencing World Cup held in Italy in May this year.

He also won two individual gold medals in the national wheel chair fencing tournament held at Tamil Nadu in August this year apart from winning gold in group event in the same meet.

He also received the best fencer of the tournament.

Further, he will participate in the National Sports Meet for Disabled in athletics event to be held at Chennai from September 19 to 21 and also in the Wheel Chair Fencing World Cup at Poland.

Suresh who got a cash award of Rs 5000 from the organizers thanked AMADa for the assistant extended by the body on his sports journey and encouraging him.

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