Thang-Ta receives shot in the arm from Rijiju
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 03 2019:
Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju who inaugurated a synthetic football turf at Sports Authority of India, North East Regional Centre SAI NERC) at Takyel today assured to promote Thang-Ta as a sport discipline.
Kiren Rijiju noted that Thang-Ta is one of the most important traditional sports of the country, and added that the Ministry has taken a decision to provide full support the traditional sport.
The Ministry has also decided to sanction Rs 10 lakh to the Sports Federation of India for training coaches of Thang-Ta and giving grant to Thang-Ta Federation.
The Ministry has also decided to provide two coaches, one male and one female, in each Thang-Ta Academy located in Imphal, Assam and Tripura and for that an interview process is already on, added Rijiju.
He then appealed the Thang-Ta Federation to promote the sport in other parts of the country.
Earlier in the day Rijiju visited the hockey astro turf ground and inaugurated the football turf.
Speaking at a function, Kiren Rijiju stated that the Government is looking towards all around development of games and sports in the country and for this, it is important to have the right sportsmanship spirit and develop sports culture in the country.
The Minister said that studying how Manipur has emerged as a sports powerhouse will help him better understand how to extend support to the budding sportspersons of the State.
He continued that one of the main purposes of his visit is to review the progress of National Sports University, which was declared in 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi but took some time to take off due to land issue.
Kiren Rijiju said that after the land issue was settled and a new site was identified for the NSU, and soon after taking over his current charge, he decided to come here without any delay to ensure the construction of NSU.
He then assured that the construction works of the university will start soon and added that the Ministry will take up the official process for the appointment of a regular Vice Chancellor of the university who will be stationed in the university.
The Government don't want the VC to be in Delhi and look after the university in Manipur.
Within a short period of time, all important officials, Dean and faculty of the university will be appointed as well, he assured.
The Union Minister also said that the Ministry is looking forward to provide grant under the Khelo India campaign to improve sports facility and infrastructure in the State and is looking forward to provide assistance for development of sport facilities in the hill districts of the State as well.
Mentioning that he is looking forward to hold a meeting with all the Sports Ministers of the country to instruct them to provide cash rewards to sport persons who get medals at International level on their arrival without any delay, Kiren Rijiju said that the talented youth of the State must promote the sport and culture of the State.
For this to work, there must be no violence, bandh culture, strike etc, he said, explaining that if such problems persist there will be no development in the State.
The Union Minister further stated that Manipur can become one of the fastest growing and richest States in the country as it is full of talent.
However, for this, the people of the State need to cooperate in the developmental works taken up for the betterment of the State,
he added.