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Khriehu Liezietsu speaking during the opening ceremony of Khelo India at Kohima on January 23.[/caption]
Kohima, Jan. 23: Altogether two hundred and eighty-two players from eleven districts of the state are participating in the state level ‘Khelo India’, an initiative of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
The two-day sports event organised by the Department of Youth Resources and Sports got underway this morning at Hockey ground, Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima.
The ‘Khelo India’ National programme for development of sports which is rooted to Gujarat’s Khel Mahakumbh Sports festival is a holistic sports scheme launched on November 15, 2016 to make India play irrespective of social, cultural and physical boundaries.
The Khelo India revolves around three objectives to identify talents from grass-root level, to help create sports infrastructure and to prepare sports persons to win medals in the international events/arenas as making International mark in the field of sports has a great bearing on the national moral and prestige.
Under Khelo India, 21 sports disciplines have been identified for competition out of which the states/UTs has to select 10 sports disciplines for conducting block, level, district level, state level competition to tape out the hidden talents of the country.
Gracing the opening ceremony as the chief guest, Parliamentary Secretary, Youth Resources & Sports, State Lotteries & MTF, Khriehu Liezietsu said ‘Khelo India’ is an opportunity for the state to harness talents from every nook and corner of the state who will feature in the national teams.
Though Nagas possess many potential in sports, he lamented that few have gone on to become finished products. Hence, he urged upon the participants to participate effectively to translate ‘our dream’ to promote a sporting culture among the Nagas to make it a reality.
Liezietsu also informed that the department is sending players in 10 sports discipline during the year 2016-17 to represent the state and compete in the national level. They are football, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, taekwondo, athletics, Judo, wrestling, archery and boxing.
He expressed hope that Khelo India will capitalize the tremendous untapped talents in Nagaland, and that it will become a great sporting state in India and a force to reckon with both in the national and international arena.
He also unfurled the ‘Khelo India’ flag and declared open the Khelo India.
Football, volleyball, table tennis and badminton are being played for Under 14 and Under 17 for both boys and girls. Thirty-five officials are officiating the two-day sports event.
The awards distribution ceremony will be held on January 24 at 3 p.m at Hall-A, Indira Gandhi Stadium with Commissioner & Secretary, L Kire as the chief guest.