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The contingent of different schools seen during the opening ceremony of the 64th National School Games in Fencing for U-14 and U-17 years (boys and girls) at the Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium in Imphal East District on Tue. Nov. 13. (EM Images)[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Imphal, Nov. 13 (EMN): Chief Minister N Biren Singh opened the 64th National School Games in Fencing for U-14 and U-17 years (boys and girls) at the Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium in Imphal East District on Tue. Nov. 13.
Speaking on the occasion, Biren said that sports are one of the most important avenues for developing the youth and moulding them to become responsible citizens. Sports are an area where there can be no recognition on the basis of caste, creed or religion. Only talent and hard work determine the outcome. Thus, games and sports are an excellent medium through which one can bring common understanding, a sense of oneness and brotherhood, and help build character and discipline, he opined.
Informing that in the recent Commonwealth Games, Manipuri sportspersons won 10 medals out of the total 16 medals won by India, Biren said that he is happy to know that 48 players would be representing Manipur which is known as the powerhouse of the Indian Sports, in this competition.
Under the School Games Federation of India, there are over 40 sports disciplines among which 28 disciplines are recognised by the International Olympic Committee, he said while adding that the SGFI cannot conduct the competition in all disciplines in a single state for this reason. Every year, School Games Championships are held in different disciplines in different parts of the country, Biren said.
In his speech, sports minister Letpao Haokip said Manipur is no more far away from the so-called mainland India with the introduction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ initiative.
In all, 730 players representing 19 teams viz. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, CBSE Welfare Sports Organisation, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Indian Public School Conference, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Vidya Bharathi, International Board School Sports Organisation and Manipur are taking part in the competition, which will conclude on Nov. 17.