Mary Kom graces Sports Academy inauguration function
Source: The Sangai Express

Mao, April 28 2015 : For the first time in Mao (a border town of Manipur under Senapati district about 105 kms from the State capital), a sports academy named, Jagjivan Sports' Academy founded under the Asufu Christian Institute (ACI) was inaugurated today .

Olympic medallist, MC Mary Kom was the chief guest and she inaugurated the Jagjivan Sports' Academy.

Chairman of the governing board of ACI MLA L Dikho was the functional president.

CEO of JV Gokal Charity Trust, Mumbai Dr Ulhas Vasave was the special guest of the inaugural function.

Asufu Christian Institute, an apex educational institute based in Mao affiliated to the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur added the sports academy to promote games and sports in Mao area like any other parts of the State.

The sports academy would provide free football coaching for ACI students by well trained and experienced coaches.

Mary Kom inaugurating the Sports Academy

The newly inaugurated sports academy is funded by the JV Gokla Charity Trust based in Mumbai, a non-profit organization which works to bring sustainable changes in the lives of the underprivileged and needy by providing educational opportunities and healthcare facilities.

The trust focuses mainly on supporting activities related to education and healthcare in partnership with other similar organizations.

Stating that the State of Manipur has tremendous potential in the field of sports to develop like the rest of the world, Mary Kom said that the newly inaugurated sports academy would surely encourage youngsters of Mao to take up different sports disciplines as their career.

She said that the sports movements in other parts of the country are way ahead of us.

"It is never too late to do what is good for everyone," Mary added.

She urged the younger generation to work hard without forgetting the values of moral and academic educations.

Later she requested the governing authority of ACI to make the Jagjivan Sports' Academy a multi-sports complex in coming years.

L Dikho stated that the sports academy would be a multi sports complex to train young players of different sports disciplines so that they can compete in National and international championships.

He urged the students to be sincere in their work and make sports a part of their life.

He added that ACI would bring various developments in the area besides education.

He said hospitals and health related projects would be implemented in coming years.

Dr Ulhas Vasave said that the charity trust has been providing educational infrastructure to various parts of the country.

As part of the inaugural function of the sports academy, a library was also inaugurated by the chief guest.

Speaking to media persons after the formal inaugural function, MC Mary Kom stated that after the 2016 Rio Olympics she would retire from her boxing career and dedicate her time to the family and her boxing academy where more than 30 boxers are being trained.