National School Games for Fencing opened
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, November 13 2018: Chief Miniter N Biren Singh opened the National School Games in Fencing for Under-14 and 17 years (boys and girls) at Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium in Imphal East District today.

Youth Affairs and Sports (YAS) Minister Letpao Haokip, Secretary (YAS) Bobby Waikhom and observer of School Games Federation of India, Sanjoy Goutam also attended the opening function as dignitaries.

Speaking at the occasion, N Biren Singh said that sports are one of the most important avenues for developing the youth and moulding them to become responsible citizens.

Sports are an area where there can be no recognition on the basis of caste, creed or religion.

Only talent and hard work determine the outcome.

Thus, games and sports are an excellent medium through which one can bring common understanding, a sense of oneness and brotherhood, and help build character and discipline, the Chief Minister opined.

He also urged the players to work harder in order to achieve success not only in the national and international competitions but also in every walk of life.

Wishing all the players, the Chief Minister exhorted them to win with all humility and lose with dignity.

The Chief Minister further said that the National School Games is also an opportunity for the players to participate and win laurels while adding that he is happy to know that 48 players will represent Manipur in this competition.

Players from Manipur despite all odds, have been preparing with hard work and determination and have been overcoming all obstacles, he added.

Stating that Manipur is known as the powerhouse of the Indian Sports, N Biren Singh said that the State occupies a prominent place in the field of games and sports in the country.

Despite small population, Manipur has won several medals in individual and team events in different national and international competitions so far, he said.

In the recent Commonwealth Games, sportspersons from the State won 10 medals out of total 16 won by India, the Chief Minister informed.

Under the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), there are over 40 sports disciplines among which 28 disciplines are recognised by the International Olympic Committee, the Chief Minister informed while adding that the SGFI cannot conduct the competition in all disciplines in a single State for this reason.

Every year, School Games Championships are held in different disciplines in different parts of the country, maintained N Biren Singh He stated that Manipur had been participating in and hosting National School Games events under the aegis of SGFI in different sports disciplines since the beginning.

The State however could not host the Games continuously in previous years due to various issues including law and order problems, he added.

Now with the restoration of peace, the State has once again resumed hosting various national tournaments and championships, and there is an opportunity for the country to explore Manipur, N Biren Singh observed.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Letpao Haokip said that it is a great pleasure hosting the fencing event of the National School Games by the State located in the corner most part of the country.

States like Manipur which were once known as far-flung area earlier is no more far away from the so-called mainland India with the introduction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' initiative, he observed.

The present Prime Minister is carrying forward the legacy of united and strong India built up and left behind by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, he added.

In all, 730 players representing 19 teams from Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, CBSE Welfare Sports Organisation, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Indian Public School Conference (IPSC), Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Vidya Bharathi, International Board School Sports Organisation and Manipur are taking part in the competition, which will come to an end on November 17.The opening ceremony also witnessed march-past of participating teams and cultural presentations.

Later, the Chief Minister declared the Games open amidst loud applause and cheering.

The competition is organised by the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of Manipur under the aegis of National School Games Federation of India.

In the opening day, Maharashtra won gold medal in the Seber Boy's team while Jammu & Kashmir bagged the silver medal and Manipur and Haryana took the bronze medal.

Maharashtra defeated Jammu & Kashmir by 15-11 points in the final today.

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