Grand reception for 5 Manipur Olympians on Aug. 21

Our Correspondent
Imphal, Aug. 18 (EMN): Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday said that a grand reception of all five Olympians of the state who participated in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics 2020 would be held in Imphal on August 21 to distribute cash rewards and job appointment orders as part of extending honour to the achievers.

Chief Minister Biren Singh was speaking at the reception ceremony of Judo Olympian Likmabam Sushila Chanu held at Heingang Marjing Lai Haraopham, Imphal East district.

Informing that that the Manipur government had been putting in best possible efforts to develop infrastructures in the field of games and sports despite its limited resources, Singh said that the government had come up with a policy programme to give priority to those disciplines in which the players from the State could succeed and excel at the international level.

Stating that societies with people of good character, manners and mutual respect were must for taking the State to its path of progress, he said that it was through the youth’s participation in games and sports that they can be imbibed with such characters.

Expressing hope that more athletes from the State would be qualified for Paris Olympics 2024, he also encouraged judoka Sushila to continue putting extra efforts in her training so that the latter could win a gold medal in the next Olympic Games.

Regarding the announcement of the Manipur Government’s reward to Tokyo Olympics Gold Medalist Neeraj Chopra with INR 1 Crore, he stated that Manipur being called as the power house of Indian sports should also show respect and honour the achievements of players from other states to show that Manipur is always in forefront when it comes to games and sports. 

Former Minister W Jagor Singh, Director, Youth Affairs and Sports T Phulen, Director, Tourism W Ibohal, Chief Engineer, Minor Irrigation H Brajendra and elected representatives of local bodies also attended the programme among others.