EMN
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 18
THE Former Chief Minister and Present MP, Nagaland Shri Nepihiu Rio on Wednesday invited the Faith in Action Team to his residence and congratulated the team for becoming the World Champions in the recently held World Hanmadang Taekwondo Championship from August 21st to August 24th , 2014 at Pohang City, South Korea and bringing laurels to the Country and the State. He said Nagas have great potential in carving a niche for themselves in the discipline of Sports and encouraged the team to continue their work irrespective of accolades.
The MP, inquired after the problems of Faith in Action team which they faced on their journey to South Korea.
The team leader Deep Kumar narrated the events which unfolded with the late arrival of the visas and ultimately causing the team to miss their flight to South Korea. With ticket prices shooting up, the team recalled people advising them to return home and try next year. “It was the worst day of our lives,” Kumar told the MP.
However, the hope came with their encounter with the Good Samaritan, one Mr.Baliram Sharma whose act of kindness came as ‘providence’ and is now well known in the state.The elderly gentleman from Delhi, on seeing the team of young boys in disarray and worried at the Indira Gandhi International Airport had enquired after them. Hearing their plight he was convinced that the team should go and participate at the championship event . He paid for the team’s air tickets costing Rs. 2.70 Lakh, an amount which he said they could return after returning home. This act of faith from a complete stranger bolstered hope of the Faith in Action team and they reached the venue with time enough to participate only in events scheduled for the last two days. Penniless,they went without wholesome food for 4 days, living off noodles that the organisers provided and stayed at the cheapest hotel.
‘But by the grace of God, we could do very well’, says the team leader.
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The rest as they say is history, the Faith in Action broke a 4o year old jinx when the won the
The MP Neiphiu Rio handed the Faith in Action team an amount of Rs 3 lakh for the team to repay their dues to Mr.Baliram Sharma and at the same time wished the team to excel in their ministry.
In this regard, The Faith in Action expressed their gratitude to the honourable MP for his generosity and absolving them of the worry of returning the loan to Baliram Sharma.
