OUR CORRESPONDENT
SIVASAGAR: With a view to develop the sporting culture in Sivasagar district, identify talents from grassroots and groom them for national and international success, Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner Dr MS Lakshmi Priya has taken up an ambitious project christened ‘Khelo Sivasagar Khelo’.
Focussing on reviving the sports culture at the grassroots and establishing the region as a sporting district, a meeting was held with Dr MS Lakshmi Priya in the chair at the Sukafa Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s office recently.
The meeting was attended by office-bearers of various sports organizations, sports organizers, host of veteran and rising sports persons of the district and sports lovers.
The meeting was also graced by pride of Sivasagar, Arjuna awardee Bhogeswar Baruah and nationally acclaimed veteran athlete Mohitri Handique.
Speaking at the meeting, the deputy commissioner said ‘Khelo Sivasagar Khelo’ is an effort to give strength to a movement for playing more. The focus is on every aspect that would make sports more popular across the region.As part of this initiative, various sports events will be be held at school, education block and at the district levels with an aim to professionally groom and systematically select players from the district to compete at the national level.
Urging the youth to take up to sports actively as it is an important tool for the development of the nation, the deputy Commissioner appealed for full cooperation from all sports lovers.
Dr Lakshmi Priya also declared Arjuna Bhogeswar Baruah as the official brand ambassador of ‘Khelo Sivasagar Khelo’.
The district sports officer Sanjoy Upadhyaya through a power-point presentation detailed about the preliminary preparations lined up for ‘Khelo Sivasagar Khelo’.
Notably, the competitions will be held under the overall supervision of the deputy commissioner and under the aegis of the District Sports Office, Inspector of Schools and in collaboration with the district sports associations of Sivasagar and Nazira.
The competitions will be held from last week of January to the middle of February next year.
The competitions will be held in three categories for both boys and girls – under 14 years, under 17 years and under 19 years.
The meeting also discussed at length about the selection of play fields, indoor halls and availability of sports items at schools along with construction of block level and district level committees.
The meeting also decided to have a total of 32 categories of sporting events.
The deputy commissioner assured those present that the administration will take all possible measures to elevate the sports scenario in the district by addressing the shortcomings.
Speaking at the meeting, Arjuna awardee Bhogeswar Baruah lauded the initiatives taken by the district administration and opined that the ‘Khelo Sivasagar Khelo’, which is first of its kind in the State, will help find young talent from the schools in various disciplines and groom them as future sports champions.
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