A CORRESPONDENT
ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Education Minister Taba Tedir on Thursday launched the '8 AM Sports Diet Scholarship', first of its kind in India.
The scholarship is an initiative of Helping Hands, a New Delhi-based NGO and being sponsored by Gurgaon-based VR Industries Private Limited (VRIPL).
Lauding the NGO, particularly its president Robin Hibu, for the path breaking inventiveness and sponsors, Tedir in his address said that the huge sports potential of Arunachal Pradesh is well known.
"The small 17-member state team created a record in the 36th National Games this year held recently at Ahmadabad in Gujarat by winning seven medals while states taking part with 300 to 400 players had drawn blank. Chief Minister Pema Khandu had paid cash award of Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh to gold and silver medal winners respectively," he said.
The state government has notified its sports policy with priorities in eight sports disciplines, with cash incentives and 5 per cent reservation in all government jobs and 10 per cent for police department, he said and added that the concern of need for nutritious food stuffs for players to play well would be solved by this scholarship.
Congratulating the awardees, the minister, who is also the president of Arunachal Olympic Association (AOA), called upon the players to get ready to play with commitment in the ensuing 2nd North East Olympic Games slated for October 30 to November 6.
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