There is immense potential for development of sports in the North-East: President Murmu

Shillong (Uttam Hindu News): President Draupadi Murmu said here on Monday that there is immense potential for the development of sports and sportspersons in the North-Eastern region, and the region also has a rich sports culture. The President inaugurated the 5th edition of Meghalaya Games in Tura on Monday. He said that diversity is the beauty of India and the talent of the players should be utilized to further boost India’s global image in the sports sector.

He stressed the need to support the talents from tribal areas and groom them to become professional sportspersons. The President expressed happiness to note that the North Eastern society encourages women to play and take up sports as a profession. Noting that the North-East has produced many great women athletes, he also underlined the potential of adventure sports and adventure tourism in the region and the need to explore and leverage it on priority basis.

The President said that India’s sports culture has developed significantly in recent years. “With the government’s new initiatives and incentives to players, Indian players are now winning more medals than ever in global competitions,” he said. Draupadi said programs like Khelo India are helping to identify and nurture future sports champions. India has also demonstrated its ability to host large-scale international sporting and other events. The President urged children and youth to learn at least one sport and participate in sports-related activities.

He said that whether they take up sports as a career or not, playing together will inculcate team spirit and competitiveness in their personality apart from keeping them physically and mentally fit. The President said that the decision of the Meghalaya Government to organize these Games in different parts of the State is a welcome step and will ensure wider reach of such events among the public. He expressed confidence that events like the Meghalaya Games will encourage athletes to excel, boost competitiveness and create a vibrant sports ecosystem.

More than 3,000 athletes from across the state will compete in 22 events at the Meghalaya Games. This is the first time, indigenous sports will be a part of the Meghalaya Games to promote the rich culture and tradition of the three tribes of Meghalaya – Khasi, Jaintia and Garo – through sports. Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the President at Guwahati’s popular Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, from where Murmu took a helicopter flight to Balzac airport in West Garo Hills district. The President will lay the foundation stone of the Shillong Ropeway Project in Meghalaya’s capital Shillong on Tuesday.