64th National School Games in Fencing Gets Underway at Imphal

Guwahati: The formal inauguration ceremony of the 64th National School Games in Fencing for Under-14 and 17 years (boys and girls) took place at Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium in Imphal on Tuesday.

The opening ceremony was attended by Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Letpao Haokip, Secretary (sports) Bobby Waikhom, Observer of School Games Federation of India, Sanjoy Goutam,Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Letpao Haokip, Secretary (sports) Bobby Waikhom and Observer of School Games Federation of India, Sanjoy Goutam

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister N Biren said that sports are one of the most important avenues for developing the youth and moulding them to become responsible citizens. Sports are an area where there can be no recognition on the basis of caste, creed or religion. Only talent and hard work determine the outcome. Thus, games and sports are an excellent medium through which one can bring common understanding, a sense of oneness and brotherhood, and help build character and discipline, he said.

Lauding the efforts of the sportspersons of Manipur, the CM informed that in the recent Commonwealth Games, sportspersons from the state won 10 medals out of total 16 won by India,

Biren Singh further said that he is happy to know that 48 players would be representing Manipur which is known as the powerhouse of the Indian Sports, in this competition.

Explaining the reason of why just one discipline of the games were held in the state, the CM said, under the School Games Federation of India, there are over 40 sports disciplines among which 28 disciplines are recognised by the International Olympic Committee, but as per rules the SGFI cannot conduct the competition in all disciplines in a single State.

Every year, the School Games Championships are held in different disciplines in different parts of the country.

While stating that Manipur had been participating in and hosting National School Games events under the aegis of SGFI in different sports disciplines since the beginning, the CM, however, expressed his regret that the State could not host the Games continuously in previous years due to various issues including law and order problems.

Biren Singh further hoped that with the restoration of peace in the Manipur, the state has once again resumed hosting various national tournaments and championships, and there is an opportunity for the country to explore Manipur.

Addressing the gathering, Sports Minister Letpao Haokip said Manipur is no more far away from the so-called mainland India with the introduction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ initiative.

Altogether 730 players representing 19 teams viz. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, CBSE Welfare Sports Organisation, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Indian Public School Conference, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Vidya Bharathi, International Board School Sports Organisation and Manipur are taking part in the competition, which will come to an end on November 17.

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