Arunachal all set to host National Weightlifting C’ship
M Doley
ITANAGAR, Nov 21: Arunachal Pradesh is all set to host the 7th National Youth (Boys & Girls), 48th Men and Women Junior National Weightlifting Championship at Nirjuli near here from November 22 to 30 next.
Besides host Arunachal Pradesh over 500 athletes from eight teams from as many states viz: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Manipur, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Kerala have already arrived in Itanagar to participate in the Championship. West Bengal and another team from Andhra Pradesh were on the way and are expected to arrive by mid-night today, according to Arunachal Weightlifting Association vice president L Sokun Singh. “The teams are arriving in batch wise and over 1000 athletes, including officials, are expected to reach here in different batches in the next two days to take part in different categories of the event, Singh said.
Arunachal Pradesh is fielding a 15 strong team which includes Youth Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship Silver medalists Takio Yana and Soram Hitler Tagru. However, national champion Yukar Sibi is not taking part due to injury.
The Arunachal team members are (Youth Girls) Takio Yana, Yanu Kipa, H. Jinapani Devi, Memphoi Angom and K H Rina Devi; (Youth Boys) Kipa Caku, Jimjang Dero, Lalu Taku, Youmin Ruyi, Soram Hitler Tagru, Sambu Lapung, Kojum Taba; (Jr. Girls)–Menu Tajo; (Jr. Boys)–Vivek Nabba, Shubham Verma. Soram Hitler Tagru and Sambu Lapung are also participating in Jr Boys category.
The inaugural ceremony to be held at 4 pm tomorrow would be followed by cultural programmes and fashion show. According to Indian Weightlifting Federation Joint Secretary Abraham K Techi all preparations for the Championship is completed and the organizing committee is fully prepared for the big event.
IWF Secretary General Sahadev Yadav has also expressed satisfaction over the arrangement.
Meanwhile, Arunachal Olympic Association (AOA) president Padi Richo today inspected the venue along with Secretary General G. Doke and office bearers of various sports bodies in the state.
While expressing his satisfaction over the initiative of Arunachal Weightlifting Association (AWA), Richo said that this Championship would definitely be a morale booster for sportspersons of the state. He urged the state government to take initiative in organizing such events in future for development of the sport sector. While suggesting the youths to take up sports seriously, Richo said, games and sports, if pursued seriously, could earn livelihood as well as glory for them.
The AOA president informed that the much hyped Sports Policy of the state would be submitted to the Government within two weeks for approval. The Review Committee headed by Sports and Youth Affairs Director DK Dinglow was busy in giving a final shape to it, he said.
Richo urged the State Government to absorb the outstanding sportspersons of the state in Government jobs not below the rank of an officer. He also requested those Govt departments, who have not yet implemented the 5 per cent reservation policy, to implement it immediately. He also advocated for construction of atleast a stadium in every district headquarters to groom latent sports talents.
Meanwhile, Richo urged the authority for proper use of fund under Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) and completion of the on-going sports competitions under PYKKA within November so that selected sportspersons could participate in the national level competitions scheduled to be held in December.
Source: Arunachal Times
