Our Sports Reporter
GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today inaugurated the Fitness Centre, Banquet & Lawn and covered practice arena of the Assam Cricket Association in a function held at the ACA Stadium, Barsapara here today. At the same function he also laid the foundation stone of the ACA Parking and Commercial Complex.
Speaking in the function Sarma termed the occasion momentous for Assam Cricket Association and the cricketing landscape of the State. He said that the newly developed state-of-the-art ACA Fitness Centre would play a pivotal role in enhancing the performance of the professional cricketers of the State by improving their overall physical fitness. He, at the same time, also spoke about the ACA Covered Practice Arena and the purpose it would serve towards enabling the cricketers to practice even during rains.
Meanwhile Sarma today added that efforts are on to boost the sports infrastructure in the state. He said, " The Badminton Association of India will soon open an Apex Centre at Amingaon where shuttlers will get all the modern facilities for training. A Games village will also come up at the Sarusajai Sports Complex where around 250 players and officials can be accommodated at a time. Sports pension will now be provided to those sports persons also who will win medals in their respective World Championship."
It may be mentioned here that earlier medal winners in Olympic, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games were eligible for the sports pensions.
Earlier Devajit Saikia, Secretary, Assam Cricket Association in his welcome address said that the ACA Fitness Centre would fill a longstanding vacuum, and would surely boost the existing infrastructure at the ACA Stadium in Barsapara. Speaking about the ACA Covered Practice Arena, he said that it would help the players continue their practice unabated, notwithstanding unfriendly weather conditions. He, at the same time, expressed gratitude to the Government of Assam for allotting 11 bighas of land adjacent to the ACA Stadium, Barsapara where the proposed ACA Parking and Commercial Complex will come up.
The function was also attended by the president of the Assam Cricket Association Romen Dutta, Debolal Gorlosa, Chief Executive Member, North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council along with several former cricketers.
During the event Chief Minister, who was the former president of Assam Cricket Association, handed over a cheque of Rs 5 lakh, given by the ACA, to Debolal Gorlosa for the flood affected people of North Cachar Hills.
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