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TSEMINYU — Advisor to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, Abu Metha, stated on Thursday that sports organisations must refocus and recast new aspirations, visions, and strategies to develop athletes.
He said this while addressing the inaugural programme of the 1st edition of the Rengma Sports Association (RSA) Mini Olympic 2024 at RSA Ground in Tseminyu as an inaugural guest.
Metha is also the Chairman of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), Associate Vice President of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), and Secretary General of the Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA).
Metha said in his speech that people from Tseminyu have contributed to Nagaland in a variety of fields over the past several decades, and he also congratulated the Rengma community on becoming a full-fledged district under the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
Asserting that the Rengma people are contributing towards Nagaland’s quest for greater growth, he highlighted the various achievements made by the people from the Rengma community.
He urged the assembled athletes to do their best to demonstrate sportsmanship, as there is an opportunity to reach the top if they perform well enough to represent Tseminyu at the Nagaland Olympic Games, and then to represent the state at the Northeast Olympic Games and the National Games.
Given that Nagaland will host the Northeast Olympic Games, he urged Tseminyu athletes to excel in their respective sports and make it a point to represent the state.
Metha stated that no one can stop a person from reaching the pinnacle of success in sports and games, and that there is no shortcut to success. In sports, there is no backdoor, VIP recommendation, or under-the-table arrangement; only dedication, sincerity, and hard work can determine a future, he added.
He said that sports and games are no longer just a recreational activity, hobby, or pastime, but a professional arena where people get jobs, become millionaires and international celebrities and make their country proud.
He stated that the government of Nagaland is taking sports seriously and urged the state's athletes to have mental strength in sports, which requires ambition and motivation.
Meanwhile, he informed that the state government is developing a new sports policy with an emphasis on new sports infrastructure and has been providing special training to athletes to represent Nagaland through high-performance coaching camps, foreign coaches, and exposure trips for Nagas to do well.
Assuring that the government will look into the RSA's complaints, he also emphasised the importance of focusing on how to improve sports, stating that for far too long, the people of the state have invested resources and time in infrastructure that does not benefit athletes.
He underscored the need to develop sports facilities for sportspersons to use so that they become champions tomorrow. He also asserted the need to strategise the vision of sports associations and focus the resources on training and development of the sports ecosystem.
Furthermore, he also emphasised the need for parents, schools, universities, and institutions to understand that sports is a career and a multi-billion dollar industry, as well as a powerful tool to unite people.
Furthermore, he stated that the state government, led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, is projecting itself as an international destination and a capital for music, arts, innovation, creativity, and sports.
GK Rengma, President RSA, delivered the welcome address, in which he stated that the idea of organising the mini-Olympics was to bring the youth together and play sports while also highlighting the achievements of Rengma community athletes.
RSA has been in existence for more than 70 years, and he has appealed to construct a 2000-seat gallery at the RSA Ground in Tseminyu.
Other highlights of the event included a Zumba dance by Children of Sunday School (CSS) at Tseminyu Town Baptist Church (TTBC), a special song by Singinye Kemp, and a vote of thanks delivered by Abija Khing, convenor of the Finance Committee. The programme was led by Akhu Kath, convenor of the organizing committee.
The ten-day RSA mini-olympic has over 400 athletes representing the Kasha Daho Sports Association, Kithagha Sports Association, Tseminyu Tsipwen Kecho Logwa: Kandi Sports Association, Tesophenyu Group Sports Association, Tsogin Range Sports Association, and Phengshunyu Lowjvu Sports Association.