NOA partners with SFA to promote grassroots sports in Nagaland

DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA) and Sports For All (SFA) have announced a strategic partnership aimed at enabling school athletes in Nagaland to showcase their sporting talent.

According to a press release, this initiative is designed to strengthen the grassroots sports ecosystem in the state, with the goals of promoting sports participation, empowering young talent, and providing a platform for athletes to showcase their skills on a broader stage.

The announcement was made in the presence of Neiphiu Rio, the Chief Minister of Nagaland; Y Patton, the Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland; Abu Metha, the Advisor to the Chief Minister and Chairman of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland; and Neivikuolie Khatsu, the assistant secretary general of NOA.

Speaking on the occasion, Rio shared that NOA and SFA have come together with the shared goal of creating an environment that fosters sports at the grassroots level and ignites a passion for excellence.

“Our aim is to bring about sustainable change for our state through sports. Introducing a sporting culture in school, strengthening the same in college, and creating a strong ecosystem for women athletes and coaches are key initiatives that make Nagaland a great contender to host the National Games,” he said.

Metha noted that the partnership aligns with the state’s vision to expand the sporting ecosystem in Nagaland and provide an opportunity for athletes to assess their capabilities and gain exposure.

The company will facilitate its flagship IP, the SFA Championships, a platform for developing grassroots sports in the state and country, through this partnership, it said, adding that the NOA’s and the Government of Nagaland’s commitment will be a catalyst in the discovery of sporting talent at the SFA Championships. 

Speaking about the partnership, Rishikesh Joshi, the founder of SFA, stated that Nagaland has witnessed substantial growth in terms of sporting infrastructure and emerging athletes. He mentioned that this association will contribute to the further development of the sporting ecosystem in the state and the entire country.

“After having created a valuable impact across nine cities within a span of three months, SFA Championships will now make a debut in the North-East, the grounds of emerging sporting potential,” he said.