Dimapur, July 7 (EMN): Abu Metha, Associate Vice President, Athletics Federation of India has been appointed as the chairman of the ‘National Mountain Running Committee’ of the Athletics Federation of India.
Extending its congratulations to Metha, Nagaland Athletics Association stated that this is the first time that a sports administrator from Nagaland will be heading a national committee.
It said that the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) was born in 1984 as the International Committee of Mountain Running (ICMR). In 1985, it first staged ‘the World Trophy’, attracting entries from more than 30 countries. In 2002, the IAAF Congress officially recognised it as an International Competition as defined by IAAF Rule 1 and in 2009 the name was changed to the Mountain Running World Championships.
Four Mountain Running Continental Championships (Africa, Europe, North America, South America) are held every year, plus Commonwealth Championships and Balkan Championships. WMRA annually stages a Long-Distance Challenge, a Youth International Cup and a Grand Prix, while a World Masters Mountain Running Championships is organised together with the WMA.
“This is the first time that the Athletics Federation of India has instituted the national committee on mountain running and it is a matter of pride that a leader from Nagaland is heading the committee.
“The Nagaland Olympic Association and the sports fraternity of the State wishes him all success in his new responsibility, while extending our appreciation to the Athletics Federation of India under the leadership of the President, Adille Sumariwala and Planning Committee Chairman, Dr. Lalit K Bhanot for the recognition accorded to Nagaland and the Northeast,” it read.