Thongdi Chang emerges winner of Kohima half-marathon

[caption id="attachment_73864" align="alignleft" width="300"] Abhijit Sinha flagging of the half-marathon event at the IG stadium on Thursday.[/caption] KOHIMA, September 8: Thongdi Chang emerged as the winner of the half-marathon event held at Kohima on the theme ‘Run Raise Respond’ in men’s category. Chikong Chang and Mangrien Wanslop were second and third respectively. In the women’s category, Wecheteu Khape was declared first while Vikuosanuo Sophie and Danielle L Jamir emerged as second and third. The event was organised by Henley Venture Group Pvt Ltd, in collaboration with the department of IT at IG stadium on Thursday. Home Commissioner, Abhijit Sinha, as the chief guest flagged off the run. He expressed gratitude to the organisers for the innovative initiative to promote entrepreneurs in the state. Highlighting on the prospects of tourism and IT sectors in the state, Sinha said this initiative would inspire people to take up entrepreneurship, thereby creating wealth to have a better standard of living. Nigel Eastwood, CEO of European-based New Call Telecom International, a multi platform telecom operation, and the main person behind the event, said northeast region is an opportunity waiting to happen. He also said that his purpose is not only to raise money to invest in budding entrepreneurs, but more importantly to showcase the opportunities and huge potential of the NE. “To create more jobs and build a diverse growing economy in the NE of India, we need to catalyze, competitive and growing businesses,” said Eastwood and asserted that there is an urgent need to create more favourable climate for entrepreneurship. [caption id="attachment_73866" align="alignleft" width="300"] Nigel Eastwood[/caption] Stating that a strong ‘entrepreneurial ecosystem’ is the key to the NE’s competitiveness and development, Eastwood also pressed on the need to galvanize each and every individual to prepare for the challenges. He also asserted that NE people should not let others come and grab this opportunity, and therefore local entrepreneurs need to be encouraged. The run was followed by business networking sessions attended by a wide network of investors, local entrepreneurs, businesses who had an opportunity to discuss their business plans and get a chance to receive a proportion of the funds raised, assisted and mentored for their initiative by Nigel Eastwood and his team. About 150 runners participated in the event. Besides Kohima, the half-marathon events were also held in Guwahati on 3 September, Shillong on 6 September. Next up is Imphal, scheduled for September 10 next.