EMN
KOHIMA, AUGUST 14
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who is also the president of the Nagaland Olympic Association and the archery association, has described the selection of Chekrovolu Swuro for the Arjuna Award as a moment of pride for Nagaland and a significant achievement for the State especially the sports fraternity. Ace archer and Nagaland state’s first Olympian, Chekrovolu Swuro has been selected for the Arjuna Awards of 2013. She will be the first Naga to receive the award.
In his communiqué, Rio stated that Swuro represented India at the London Olympic Games in 2012 and has consistently represented the country in the past several years winning more than 80 medals at the regional, national and international level. She had won medals at the world cup and Asian grand prix. She was also the first recipient of the Dr. T. Ao Sports Awards and the Young Naga Achievers Awards 2012.
The Dr. T. Ao Awards were instituted in 2012 in memory of the first Naga Olympian, Dr. Talimeren Ao, who was the first captain of the Indian football team to the Olympic arena during the 1948 London Games. Incidentally more than six decades later it was London again, which produced the second Naga Olympian. In 1948, Nagaland was under the State of Assam.
The Chief Minister stated that Chekrovolu belongs to a humble background, has overcome numerous challenges and made significant sacrifices from the time she was a child till date. “Her achievements and her career is an inspiration to one and all and she has become a role model for the youth of the country”, Rio stated adding that her selection for the award is a deserving and timely recognition of her contributions in the service of the nation and the award acknowledges her contributions towards the nation building process.
Rio congratulated her on behalf of the state government, the Nagaland Olympic Association and all citizens of the State and wished her all success in future hoping that she will continue to bring laurels for the country and our people.
It may be recalled that Rio had personally written to the Prime Minister of India recommending the case of Chekrovolu for consideration for the awards on 30th April, 2013. In his letter to the PM, Rio had stated that Chekrovolu hails from one of the most remote corners of the country and her achievements are dotted with sacrifices, immense difficulties and sacrifices and that was an inspiration for the youth of the country. Rio had highlighted her achievements and noted that bestowing the award upon her would inspire youngsters in this trouble torn region to come forward and participate in the mainstream sporting activities more enthusiastically. “It would create a positive sense of belonging amongst the youth of Nagaland and the north eastern region, Rio had urged upon the PM.
Rio had also written to the union minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and the union secretary of the ministry.
In the first term of the DAN ministry, Rio had also written to the Prime Minister highlighting the need for the country to recognise late Dr. T. Ao for his contributions to Indian sport and to the country as a whole but the Government of India had replied saying that the Arjuna Awards are not given posthumously. Subsequently, a road in the state capital and the state’s highest sports awards were named in the memory of the late footballer.
The state’s inter district football trophy and the north east football championships are also held in his memory. The first ever north east football championships were hosted by Nagaland in Dimapur and aptly named after Dr. T. Ao. There is also a project named after the footballer for creation of a north east football academy in Nagaland.
With her name announced as an Arjuna Awardee, Chekrovolu Swuro becomes one of the highest achievers in Nagaland society past and present. Until recently, the Arjuna Awards were the highest sports awards given to sportspersons by the country. Only the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna is higher than the Arjuna Awards. Past recipients of the Arjuna Awards include India’s first cricket world cup winning captain Kapil Dev, cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Viswanath, badminton players Prakash Padukone and Pulela Gopichand, weightlifter Kunjarani Devi, hockey legend Zaffer Iqbal and cueists Micheal Ferreira and Geet Sethi just to name a few. Chekrovolu Swuro is indeed in legendary and illustrious company and will eventually take the shape of a Naga legend in the years to come and inspire a new generation of Naga youth to strive for the highest standards of excellence.
The fact that her recognition comes on the year of Nagaland’s 50th year of Statehood is also significant and her story is even more inspirational considering the fact that she is a woman hailing form an interior and backward district belonging to a society that is largely male dominated and also bogged down with conflict, violence and political turmoil. Hers is indeed a story to tell.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]HE most famous living Naga sports personality, and first Naga women Olympian, Chekrovolu Swuro has added yet another arrow to her quiver full of achievements, reaped in a sterling career in Archery.
When the list of the awardees was announced on Tuesday, Chekrovolu was engaged in a practice session at a coaching camp currently underway at Aurangabad. Selections for the World Archery Championships, scheduled to be held in Turkey next September, are due.
It was her brother in Nagaland, who had called her with the news. “I told him to stop kidding me and not waste my time as I was practicing,” Chekrovolu said in a telephone conversation with Eastern Mirror on Wednesday.
Yet the news, after confirmation, had left her “speechless.” “I feel lucky. That’s all it is, pure luck,” she insisted.
Soft-spoken, and not known to speak much, the modest archer candidly admitted she could hardly say a word that would help express her “joy and excitement.” “You know how it is with me, I am not known to speak well. But yes, if our younger brothers and sisters (in Nagaland) can draw inspiration from what I have been able to do, then that will be my biggest achievement and reward.
“They should realize that I am just the lucky one among them. There are lots of people more gifted and talented than me. And I don’t mean only in sports. We can compete with others in any field. That’s what I want to share,” she said.
Chekrovolu only the 12th archer to win the Arjuna Award since it was first instituted in 1961 by the government of India.
Meanwhile, Nagaland minister for Youth Resources & Sports, Merentoshi Jamir and his department also paid tribute to Chekrovolu on Wednesday.
“The department is proud of her achievement in bringing laurels to our state. The department of YRS also appreciates the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, for recommending Ms. Chekrovolu Swuro for the country’s highest sports award, which will encourage sports lovers in Nagaland to take up sports as a career and also will go a long way in inspiring sportsmen to strive for excellence,” read a statement issued today.
The Arjuna Award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, a scroll and a bronze statuette of Arjuna, the ace archer in Hindu mythology.
