Sarbananda Sonowal Presides Over the Assam Olympic Association's Executive Meeting

GUWAHATI: An extended executive meeting of the Assam Olympic Association was held today at the office of the association in the R G Barua Sports Complex at the Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phookan Indoor Stadium. The meeting was chaired by Assam Olympic Association President and Union Minister and ex-Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

The Assam Olympic Association (AOBA) has suspended all members of the Assam boys' basketball team, coaches and managers from all competitions for one year for their unsportsmanlike behaviour at the recently concluded North East Olympic Games in Meghalaya. If the ad hoc committee does not follow the directives of today's meeting, the Assam Olympic Association will exclude basketball from participating in the state competitions organized by itself as well as sending teams to national sports like the North East Olympic Games.

The meeting also decided that the Assam Olympic Assistance will also recognize the State Handball Association of Assam which has been recognized by the National Handball Federation of India and recognized by the new Committee of the Olympic Association of India. The Assam Olympic Association (AOA) will seek the assistance of the Olympic Association of India (OAI) and send an official letter to resolve the issue.

The President said the Assam Olympic Association would soon hold a coordination meeting with multinational companies and industries to promote sports in the state. If a company provides financial assistance to sports in the state, it will help in the development of sports and athletes from the grassroots level. In his speech, Sonowal also thanked Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma for his strong steps for the development of sports in the state and his support to the athletes. "There is an environment in Assam where teenagers are now taking up sports as a profession. The financial security of the Deluvai trainers has been ensured. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office at the Centre, the country's sports industry has embarked on a glorious journey in the world. There is a need for the athletes of Assam to take advantage of this. The state government is ready to provide all kinds of assistance to the players. But the players must think of themselves as an asset. There is nothing wrong with the North East Games. There is nothing wrong with the North East Games. Such incidents are unfortunate in sports. We will also take mental strength training programs for the players to prevent such incidents from happening again." Sonowal said.

Meanwhile, Assam Olympic Association Secretary Lakshya Konwar informed that as the National Games will be held in Goa in 2023, the state team will prepare for it from the beginning of the year. The State Games will be held in Jorhat in February 2023 and the Youth Olympic Games in November in the Dibrugarh district.

Winners of the Guwahati Youth Olympic Games were also felicitated. The best district received a cheque of Rs 1 lakh and the second best district Dibrugarh received a cheque of Rs 70000 The best players (boys) Bibhanjyoti Laskar (football) and Zahari Kashyap (swimming) were presented with checks of Rs 25,000. Meanwhile, Arjuna Award winner Nayanmani Shaikia and Asian boxing gold, silver and bronze medalists Lavlina Bargohai, Shiv Thapa and Ankushita Boro were also scheduled to be felicitated at the function but were not present due to personal inconvenience Lakshya Konwar. The meeting also felicitated Elvis Ali Hazarika, who swam across the North Channel, and Tarang Gogoi, Joint Secretary, Assam Olympic Association, for being elected President of the Assam Cricket Association.

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