Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 12:
A total of 361 participants including officials left for Punjab to participate in the VI National Games today.
The Games will start from November 19 and will go on till December 1.Exhorting the contingent to put their best foot forward, Governor Ved Marwah during the send off function held at Khuman Lampak today, asked the participants not to he disheartened by the poor financial conditions besetting the State.
He said the Government is practically helpless to financially help out the players.
However this should not discourage the players, the Governor observed and exhorted them to bring more glory for the State.
Life president of Manipur Olympic Association RK Madhuryyajit asked the players to observe discipline and participate in the true sense of a sportsman.
He said Manipur has shown exemplary conduct in the previous games and the tradition should be kept alive during the VI National Games.
Winning is not the be all, he observed.
Urging the sportspersons to show the spirit of sportsmanship, Madhuryyajit said Manipur should set an example for the other States to emulate.
In the same breath, he added that the players should try to keep the last Games record intact.
Madhuryyajit donated Rs 5000 for the players.
Of the 361 strong contingent there are 99 male participants and 177 women players while the rest are officials.
The contingent left by bus for Gauhati from where they will board a train to be in time for the opening ceremony on Nov 19 at Ludhiana.
The VI National Games will feature a total of 26 disciplines and the State contingent will take part in 21.The disciplines in which the State contingent will take part are, handball, athletics, cycling, hockey, equestrian, wrestling, badminton, football, gymnastics, rowing, golf, fencing, judo, taekwondo, shooting, netball and canoeing.
G Joykumar Sharma, President of MOA, Ch Birendra, Chief de Mission and H Imocha Deputy Chief de Mission, did not accompany the contingent today.
They are expected to leave tomorrow.
Joykumar Sharma told this reporter that the non inclusion of aquatics in the VI National Games has given a big boost to the prospect of the State contingent.
AMSU vice president M Ingo and Imphal West president of the student body, Jotin Singh attended the send off function.
AMSU provided the sound system during today's function and the student body has wished the State contingent success.