KOHIMA, AUGUST 4: The Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima, will soon have new facilities such as synthetic running track, Astroturf football ground and floodlight. The ongoing development is under construction and the new facilities will soon be added to the stadium which has been an asset of the state government ever since its establishment.
The announcement was made by Parliamentary Secretary for Youth Resources & Sports, Khriehu Liezietsu, during the inaugural function of the 9th Inter District ‘Catch Them Young’ tournament on Thursday at IG Stadium in Kohima.
“The state government aims to provide basic and quality sports infrastructure to all the eleven districts at the earliest,” he said expressing hopes that the improvement of sports infrastructure in the state will help in producing quality sportspersons in the state. He added that success in the field of sports will bring glory to the state.
For a sportspersons to excel, the Parliamentary Secretary stressed on the requirement of a proper foundation at the grassroots.
He also reminded the young athletes that success in sports requires discipline, total commitment and dedication, and therefore, it is them who have to strive and slog hard to excel.“We must not be satisfied with being good, but strive to reach higher levels. We must try to be the best, only then, we will be able to compete with others successfully at the highest level,” he told the young athletes.
To the coaches, teachers and administrators, he reminded them that they play a vital significant role in the success and failure of sportspersons.“While it is only fair to give due recognition and appreciation to coaches if a sportsperson performs or succeed. The position of coaches may become questionable if the athlete underperforms,” he said reminding them that it is necessary for a modern day coach to regularly update himself or herself with the latest techniques and developments of the sporting world. “It is also important to keep pace with the latest changing trends of the sports discipline for performance enhancement. We have moved into a new era where performance is the bottom line, and there is no room for complacency,” Liezietsu asserted, while he also urged the coaches not to take their role and position for granted.
“Another important factor that coaches and administrators ought to keep in mind is that we have to strictly adhere to the accurate implementation of the correct age of the sportspersons. Manipulation of age has no benefits and will only harm our State in the long run,” the Parliamentary Secretary said maintaining that “we have to be honest, and it is the best policy.”
On the inter-district ‘Catch them Young’ tournament, Liezietsu said the tournament is held not only to provide platform for young sportspersons and athletes, but to expose them, develop and sharpen their skills and prepare them into medal prospects and future champs.
Expressing his delight that our state, over the years, has been performing better at regional and even national levels, eversince the ‘Catch Them Young’ tournament was reintroduced. He also challenged the young boys and girls to keep doing better so that they become ambassadors of our State.
‘Catch Them Young’ tourney underway
The 9th Inter District ‘Catch Them Young’ tournament commenced on Thursday at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima. Hundred and forty six students including seventy six boys and seventy girls, all the eleven districts are taking part in the two-day tournament to partake in the competition.
This year, the participants are below 12 years and they will be competing in athletic events, badminton and chess during the two-day event.
The tournament commenced with 1500 metre race for both boys and girls. In boy’s 1500 event, the students of Meriema Government Primary School dominated the event and secured all the position, Hinglakbe Nake stood first, followed by Lemivtsü Tikhir and Kiutsü Yimchunger as the second and third positions.
In girl’s 1500 race, Chimmukha Tikhir, also from Meriema GPS, emerged as the winner, while Tongjen of Government Middle School, Noklak emerged as the runner-up. The third place was bagged by Tsarola Sangtam representing Rüzhükhrie Government Higher Secondary School.
