Manipur gearing up to host national conference of Sports ministers

Imphal, April 17 (EMN): Manipur is gearing up to host the first national conference of Youth Affairs and Sports (YAS) ministers in Imphal on April 24 and the 25^th.

Sharing photographs of a review meeting for the upcoming conference in a tweet on Monday, Chief Minister N Biren Singh wrote, “Chaired a review meeting regarding the preparations for the ‘National Conference of YAS Ministers’ to be held in Manipur.”

“Manipur hosting this national conference is another instance of how the state is rapidly progressing and it shows our ability to lead the country in the field of sport,” he added.

Since 1984 Los Angeles Olympics onwards, Manipur, popularly known as the sports powerhouse of the country, has so far produced 19 Olympians including seven from hockey, four each from boxing and weightlifting, three from judo and one from archery.

To give recognition to the Olympians and also to inspire state sports persons to become Olympians in future, the state government in January this year inaugurated country’s first Olympic Park on top of picturesque Sangaithel hillock located about 15 km west of Imphal. The Park also houses statues of the state Olympians.

Sources said Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and YAS Anurag Thakur is also expected to attend the national conference.