Fillip to sportspersons : Appointment forms handed over
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 30 2009: Inaugurating the newly constructed school building and administrative block of the National Sports Academy here today, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has expressed hope that many National and International level players would come out from the Sports Academy.

As announced by the State Government earlier, offer forms/appointment forms were also presented by the Chief Minister to the gold medal winners in various National Games starting from the event held at Imphal in 1999 at the occasion.

The appointment orders include induction of 40 players in Youth Affairs and Sports Department, 50 players in Home Department and 19 players in the Education Department.

The Chief Minister explained that induction of the players in different departments of the State Government is based not only on their sporting talent but also on their educational qualification.

However, there are two more cases of overaged players, seven others who do not fulfil the prescribed height in the efficiency test and two other absentee players, which would be considered in accordance to their minimum qualification in general education, the Chief Minister said, while emphasising on general education along with pursuing sports.

With the inauguration of the school and the administrative block, the sports academy would be able to take care of the physical, mental and educational development of the players as well, the Chief Minister hoped.

Chief Minister O Ibobi hands over an appointment form to a sportsperson

Taking note of the fact that the number of women players was more than their male counterparts in the distribution of the appointment orders, the Chief Minister observed that more attention should be paid on improving the performance of the women players from whom much can be expected for the future of sports in Manipur.

Presiding over the ianugural function of the administrative block and the school building, which have been reported constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 92 lakhs and Rs 5.38 crores respectively with funding from DONER Ministry, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister N Biren maintained that the present Government has kept its promise of providing jobs to the meritorious players unlike the Governments in the past which never kept their words.

Earlier giving the key note address, Director of Youth Affairs and Sports Boby Waikhom informed the gathering that proposal had already made for construction of an indoor hall and an auditorium of the Sports Academy in the 12th Finance Commission.

So far, eight staff from Youth Affairs and Sports Department, four from Education Department and five other contract staff are running the Academy.

Along with development of the infrastructure of the Sports Academy fully, there would the need for appointing more staff, the Director noted.

He also expressed happiness that the Sports Academy which is not even three years old has been able to produce National level medal winner players in Archery and Judo.

Construction of the school building, administrative block, staff quarters, laboratory and the hostel of the Sports Academy reportedly began in October last year at a total estimated cost of Rs 22 crores with funding from the Ministry of DONER and Manipur Development Society as the implementing agency.

The National Sports Academy at Imphal was established in 2007 with special focus of grooming players in five disciplines namely Archery, Boxing, Judo, Taekwondo and Wrestling.

DGP Y Joykumar, Chief Secretary DS Poonia, Education Manipur L Jayentakumar, etc were among other dignitaries who were present at the function.