CM opens sports hostels, indoor stadium
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 20 2011: Emphasising that along with honing of skills in sports there is need for educational qualification, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has called on the instructors as well as upcoming sportspersons to strive for excellence in both.

Inaugurating three facilities at Khuman Lampak sports Complex today, the Chief Minister said in addition to hours of practice by the State sportspersons to compete with their peers in national and international level competitions, athletes should also strive to attain quality education for which instructors of both sports and academic activities have an important role to play.

The facilities inaugurated today included a sports hostel with 150-bed capacity in Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, an indoor hall of National sports Academy and an Academy's hostel having 150 beds each for both boys and girls.

Ibobi credited achievements of Manipuri sportspersons for the Centre approving establishment of the Academy with an allocation of Rs 18.34 crores in 2004 under a special package of the Prime Minister.

In addition to infrastructure development of the sports complex, construction of administration block of the national Sports Academy, classrooms, indoor hall, hostel and residential quarters of instructors were included in the package.

CM inaugurates sports hostel, Speaker I Hemochandra looks on

Conceding that certain impediment delayed construction activities for some years, he said since July 24, 2007 the Academy absorbed 12 students each in the discipline of archery, boxing, judo, taekwondo and wrestling.

Out of 12 seats in each of the discipline 50 percent is reserved for players of Manipur with the rest provided to sportspersons from other States, the Chief Minister informed the gathering which also included the Sports Minister DD Thaisii, IFC Minister N Biren and Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker I Hemochandra.

Conveying that with the inclusion of wrestling discipline from the previous academic session the Sports Academy is presently having a total of 110 students including 58 girls, he further highlighted that the Academy's hostel inaugurated today was constructed under the Manipur Development Society with a total expenditure of Rs 474.28 lakhs out of the PM's package.

With regard to the other 150-bedded hostel facility also inaugurated today it is informed that the construction was undertaken by the MDS with the 12th Finance Commission allocation of Rs 433.76 lakhs with cost of the Academy's indoor hall, also construction with the 12th Finance Commission allocation, put at Rs 412.86 lakhs.

Strongly advocating sincerity and dedication by the Academy instructors in order to produce quality players along with compatible education of the students, he also assured the Government's relentless support to achieve the goal.

In his presidential address, Sports Minister DD Thaisii called upon every section of the society to contribute their mite in transforming the Academy to an institution for churning out world class sportspersons.

for the record, Sports Academy student Rahul Tamang clinched the gold medal in the North East Taekwondo Championship 2010-11 held in Aizawl, K roshan secured the silver medal in the same discipline in the All India School Games 2011 held at Maharashtra while I Julie was a team member that won silver medal in the National Sub Junior Archery Championship 2010-11 held at Jharkhand.