KOHIMA— Speaker, Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), Sharingain Longkumer, on Monday encouraged the badminton players not to let anything deter their passion to excel in the game.
He was addressing the inaugural programme of Li Ning 45th Inter District & State Open Badminton Championship 2023-cum- Nagaland Badminton Association (NBA) golden jubilee commemoration held at Nagaland Legislative Assembly Stadium, Kohima.
He congratulated the NBA for the milestone and exuded hope that it will continue to achieve greater heights. He said the association has bigger responsibility to create platforms, identify talents at the tender age and to inculcate necessary skill sets required in the game.
Longkumer said the player needs to train their mental temperament, physics, inculcate the skills and be disciplined and to perform consistently with humility.
He maintained that coaches, instructors and association will only provide platforms, tools and skill sets required and that the players have to use the opportunities to their advantage and consistently excel in the game.
The Speaker also asserted that the state government under Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is putting much emphasis on sports and promoting sports as a means of livelihood. Special infrastructures are also coming up in all the districts to encourage the young talents, he said.
Meanwhile, NBA president Kesonyü Yhome, in his presidential address announced that the association has resolved to submit two sets of proposals to the chief minister to facilitate the growth of sports and infrastructure in the state.
Yhome informed that NBA will be proposing to the government to demolish the existing Indoor Badminton and TT Stadium in Kohima and construct a state-of-the art new sports complex with at least five-six badminton courts and five TT boards along with other required services and amenities.
He added that such a facility will enable the state to host major sports competitions including national level events; promote sports culture, physical fitness and recreational activities; support local sports teams and clubs; and generate revenue for the government.
Yhome said, “Regardless of the trainings; regular coaching camps and tournaments at various levels, Badminton in the State has not grown beyond a point. The one underlying reason for this could be the absence of scope to play sports as a profession - as a means of livelihood.”
In this regard he stated the NBA is proposing to the state government to put in place a policy to reserve a minimum 5 % job quota in Group C categories in the government departments for meritorious sportspersons.
Through such initiative, sports in general and badminton in particular can be taken to greater heights and also ensure that young talents get opportunities to pursue sports as a means of livelihood, he said.
Earlier, delivering the welcome address Shanavas C, DC & Chairman DSC, Kohima and vice president NBA exhorted the players to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship, respect the game and the officials of the game.
A total of 16 teams from all the districts and a team from Nagaland Police are taking part in the event.