Manipur to develop Olympian park to inspire sportspersons

Our Correspondent
Imphal, Aug. 11 (EMN): Manipur government is planning to develop Manipur Olympian Park to honour the 19 Olympians the state had produced so far and also to inspire others to become Olympians in future.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh formally disclosed this while speaking at two separate reception functions of two hockey players- Sh Nilakanta Sharma and P Sushila Chanu from the state who won hearts of many in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympic 2020 by winning a medal and creating history when the duo returned home here on Wednesday.

A resolute Indian men's hockey team wherein state player Nilakanta Sharma was a midfielder, rewrote history as they claimed an Olympic medal after 41 years, defeating a plucky Germany 5-4 to win the bronze in an edge-of-the-seat play-off match.

Similarly, Indian women's hockey team, where Sushila Chanu was also a midfielder, too created history surpassing all expectations by entering the semifinals of the Olympics for the first time.

"In the (proposed) park, we’re planning to install statues of the Olympians of the state along with their history and achievements,” Biren Singh said. “We’ve also identified and inspected the site for the proposed Manipur Olympian Park.”

On Tuesday, N Biren Singh along with some ministers and local leaders inspected a site for Manipur Olympian Park at Sangaithel area in the state.

Biren Singh also informed that the state government had also created 18 posts including 10 posts of Assistant Director (for participants), five posts of deputy director (for medal winners) and three posts of joint director (for gold medal winners)reserved for Olympians of the state in the Youth Affairs and Sports department.

He also informed that a grand reception ceremony of the state’s athletes, who participated at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, would be organised at the City Convention Centre in Imphal soon to distribute cash rewards and job appointment orders for the Olympians.

The day’s reception programme held at Thangmeiband Athletic Union ground in Imphal West district and Kontha Ahallup Makha Leikai in Imphal East district was also attended by ministers Awangbow Newmai (Forest and Environment), Sorokhaibam Rajen Singh(Education) and President Gyanendro Ningombam of Hockey India and others.