Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Oct. 13: Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Saturday said that the state government would be coming out with a Sports Policy, which will identify various sporting disciplines suitable to Nagas and promote players to be at par with national and international level sportspersons.
To make this policy work, he solicited support from the government of India. Speaking at the closing function of the Northeast zone inter-state badminton championship in Dimapur on Saturday, Rio said that even though Nagaland was the second senior-most state after Assam in the Northeast, the Nagaland Olympic Association could get affiliated to the Indian Olympic Association only in 2004—41 years after statehood even though independent India’s first football captain to the 1948 Olympics was Dr. T Ao, a renowned Naga.
“For the first time we participated in the 33rd National Games held in February 2007 at Guwahati, Assam. We won 11 medals including 1 gold but in subsequent years, our performance has declined,” the chief minister rued.
“Sports brings people together and so we should learn from one another and help each other so that we can build a good image. We should make the state, the Northeast and India proud. I hope we can move together in brotherhood and unity. Our youth should feel that oneness through sports. I hope to see the whole of the Northeast move forward and excel in the field of sports,” he added.
