The ongoing pandemic, which began in 2020, played spoilsport to sports, disrupting almost all the events across the globe, including the world’s foremost multi-sports event Olympics. But it did not spoil the sporting spirit. Playgrounds in Nagaland too came alive again after the Covid-19 restrictions were eased. Going by the state’s performance in the last couple of months, it seems like the inactivity for close to two years had infused enthusiasm among the youth, especially sportspersons to hit the ground running and excel. In March, Nagaland hosted the South Asian Cross Country Championships (SACCC) and the 56th National Cross Country Championships (NCCC), the first-ever such events in the state, and mixed martial arts fighters from the state brought laurels to the country by winning silver and bronze medals at the Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA) world championship in Amsterdam. Then the 2nd edition of the Dr. T Ao Inter-District Football Championship Trophy 2022 was successfully held in Mokokchung. That is not all. Archers from Nagaland brought home seven medals — three gold, two silver and two bronze medals – from the first Khelo India Northeast Archery Tournament held in Manipur earlier this month. The state also put up an impressive performance in the just concluded North East Regional Sports Week in Imphal, where it won 2nd runners-up title with 20 medals, including 4 gold, 4 silver and 12 bronze, only next to first runners-up Assam and over-all champion Manipur, a powerhouse of sports in India. This is encouraging and perhaps an indication of the beginning of something big in sports for Nagaland.
Amid criticisms on sportspersons over alleged lack of dedication, perseverance, hard work etc., and the state government over poor infrastructure and lack of support, there are many who silently sweat out to win medals. They need support from the public and not just the government to compete at the highest level and beat the best. This year saw the state government scaling up sports infrastructure, including inauguration of four sporting complexes — Regional Shooting Centre, Regional Archery Academy, Regional Motorsports Centre and Futsal Centre — under Regional Centre for Sporting Excellence at Chümoukedima and Nagaland Olympic Association office complex in Kohima, a first such facility in the Northeast. After Kohima and Peren, laying of artificial turf at Mon and Tuensang football grounds is said to be in progress, while one each in Dimapur and Mokokchung are said to be in the pipeline. It is an encouraging development though the state government has lot of grounds to cover after decades of neglect. The government should continue to concentrate on providing infrastructure to upcoming sportspersons. The public too should encourage sportspersons at every level instead of trolling those celebrating their hard-earned victory. No victory is too small to celebrate. Cheer for the kids competing in school sports from the stands, congratulate and join them in the celebration if you can. It can help create a strong sporting culture. Negativity won’t help anyone.