Ukhrul gets first ever indoor stadium
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, August 26 2023:
Badminton, the game of shuttlecocks has been a popular sports culture of Ukhrul district.
Now, to further the development of the sport here, along awaited dream, the dis-trict s first ever indoor stadium has finally been realised.
The newly-constructed indoor stadium cum multipurpose hall built in the district's Somdal village at a cost of Rs 4 crore was inaugurated by Ukhrul DC Zuringla Kengoo on Thursday.
The stadium comprising three badminton courts will serve as a permanent facility for both elite and amateur players, apart from serving as a multipurpose hall.
"It is indeed a proud moment for Somdal village as well as for the entire district to have fulfilled this ambitious project," said Kengoo, who is also the chairperson of the UD-CRMS, while welcoming the new facility in the presence of District Project Director (DPD) UDCRMS Lily Rose Jajo, Ukhrul SP Ningshem Vashum, official representatives and local villagers.
Stating that construction of this facility was possible due to the UDCRMS Ukhrul's synergy with the REC, New Delhi, and acted as the implementing agency, DC Kengoo expressed her gratitude to the Chairman and Managing Director of the REC, New Delhi and UDCRMS Ukhrul team for their immense support.
The locals, for their part, have been immensely supportive of the project and have made it possible to open the indoor stadium today, she said.
DC Kengoo appealed to the locals to properly maintain and care for the new facility, which she said was a magnificent infrastructure.
She further urged parents to allow their children to pursue a career in sports, especially badminton.
"Today, the inauguration of the first badminton indoor marks a landmark in the prospect of badminton in our district and will surely help boost its popularity in the district.
It will not only provide a venue for upcoming players to showcase their abilities but will also help nurture the sport in the region," said DPD Lily Jajo, adding that it was initiated during the tenure of former DPD Tychicus Vashum, which got hindered due to Covid-19 pandemic.
She also lauded Asui Muivah, the ex-chairman of Somdal Village Development Committee, as the project was his brainchild.
Noting the potential of the young badminton players of the village, Jajo proposed that a badminton academy is opened here by collaborating with the Ukhrul District Badminton Association.
"The Ukhrul district of Manipur is set to have its first-of-its-kind indoor sports stadium.
State-level and national-level players can be brought to the fore through this new facility," Ukhrul SP Ningshem Vashum said, while calling for a collective effort to produce these skilled players, particularly the youth of the district.
At the same time, he stressed on the importance of well-being and the need to create awareness and preventive measure against the growing menace of drug abuse among the youth.
The police officer further urged each and every one to come together and work towards the goal of a robust and healthy next generation.
This district has also become a hub of various harmful tobacco products being transported in large quantities.
In order to curb this, Vashum asked the local population to discourage the usage of such products.
It may be mentioned the REC Ltd extended CSR support for Rs 4 crore to UDCRMS district unit of North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS) for construction of the new facility back in 2017.In this regard, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed between REC Ltd GM CP Bhatia and former DPD, UDCRMS Tychicus Vashum in Imphal, the capital city of Manipur.