Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 09:
Coming out strongly against the threat given by an individual who identified himself as an activist of a proscribed outfit through telephone dictating that only 45 players from out of 236 senior players selected to represent Manipur in the 28th National Masters Athletic Championship should be sent, sportspersons of the State have demanded withdrawal of the restriction immediately.
Talking to mediapersons in this connection at Keishampat today, worried sportspersons informed that after the selection trial conducted on July 1 and 2, the selection committee selected in all 250 players of Manipur Master Athletic Association to represent the State in the 28th National Master Athletic Championship scheduled to be held from August 20 to 23 at Jaipur.
However, an adhoc committee with ex-president of the Association Chaoba and secretary RK Chourjit as chairman and convenor on July 31 and August 1 selected 45 players newly to participate in the Championship.
The sportspersons further informed that after some of the players selected after three rounds of trial voluntarily expressed their inability to participate in the championship, an amount of Rs 200 each have been collected as entry fee from 120 players and their tickets booked for the journey.
But on August 7, one individual who identified himself as an activist of an underground outfit threatened that only 45 players should go to participate in the championship.
Such undue interferences would discourage the players who could bring laurels to the State.
All the selected players should be allowed to participate and compete in the championship which is held only once in a year, they said.