The Li-Ning 45th Inter-district and State Open Badminton Championship and Nagaland Badminton Association (NBA) Golden Jubilee Commemoration program was held at Nagaland Legislative Assembly Stadium on Monday with NLA Speaker Sharingain Longkumer as the Special Guest.
In his address, the Speaker stressed on the importance of identifying talents at tender age and to inculcate the necessary skill set of skills required in the game. He said that NBA has a big responsibility to shoulder in creating such platforms so that the state too can produce players in all levels be it the district, state, national and international.
Longkumer congratulated NBA and its founding members for bringing the association to glorious 50 years and also unveiled the Golden Jubilee Souvenir and the NBA website.
NLA Speaker Sharingain Longkumer
Further, he encouraged the young players participating in the tournament to train their mental temperament, maintain their physique, inculcate the skills, and maintain discipline. He urged them to perform consistently with humility, perseverance and commitment towards success. The Speaker also stated that a player should always give extra effort and aim to reach the top.
He mentioned that the State Government is focusing on the upliftment of sports sector and also announced that the NLA will sponsor a doubles and singles team to participate in international tournament and asked NBA to encourage players to come forward.
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President, Nagaland Badminton Association, Kesonyü Yhome, IAS said in his speech that on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee, NBA has resolved to submit two sets of proposals to the Chief Minister of Nagaland and the State Government to facilitate the growth of sports and infrastructure in the State.
The first proposal, Yhome announced, was to completely demolish the existing Indoor Badminton and TT Stadium at Kohima and construct a new state-of-the-art Sports Complex with at least five to six badminton courts and five TT boards along with other required services and amenities. He said a facility will enable the State to host major sports competitions including national level events, promote sports culture, physical fitness and recreational activities; support local sports teams and clubs and generate revenue for the government.
The second proposal is to put in place a policy to reserve minimum 5% job quota in Group C categories in the government departments for meritorious sportspersons so that together we can take sports in general and Badminton in particular to greater heights and ensure that young talents get opportunities to pursue sports as a means of livelihood. Yhome stated that regardless of the trainings, regular coaching camps and tournaments at various levels, badminton in the State has not grown beyond a point and the one underlying reason for this could be the absence of scope to play sports as a profession – as a means of livelihood.
The NBA president asserted that the association will aggressively pursue these proposals and said that it was very positive that with these kind of initiatives, much needed springboard can be established for the younger generations of the society in the field of sports who will proudly represent the state and country some day in the foreseeable future.
It had been informed that participants from 15 districts had reached Kohima except for Noklak district.
Kohima Deputy Commissioner, Shanavas C, IAS who is also the Chairman of District Sports Council and Vice President NBA in the welcome address also highlighted the Nagas’ love for badminton. He also mentioned the challenges faced in sports and games and how badminton sailed through the challenges and produced some eminent international players for the country.
Pastor, City Church Kohima Rev Kedo Peseyie, blessed the program with Invocation Prayer and a special song was presented by Mengu Suokhrie.
