Imphal, Sep 6: The State Youth Affairs and Sports minister N Biren and GOC 57 Mt Div. DS Hooda jointly flagged off the First North East Pre-Everest Expedition to Mount Nepal Peak (7169 Mtrs) in the Sikkim Himalayas yesterday morning around 11.30 am from MMTA campus at Minuthong in Imphal.
The expedition is being organised under the aegis of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) New Delhi and sponsored by the North Eastern Council (NEC) Shillong in collaboration with Sikkim Mountaineering Association, Gangtok.
The 14 member expedition contingent comprises mountaineers from different states of the region including two lady climbers and will be led by Dr. L Surjit Singh, President of the MMTA and assisted by two deputy leaders Puyamcha Mohon from Manipur and Kazisherpa from Sikkim. The team is planning to summit the Mount Nepal Peak on September 25 this month.
In the meantime, the state Youth Affairs and Sports minister N Biren while speaking at the flagging off ceremony yesterday morning at the MMTA complex gave an assurance to provide assistance in the future plans of the association including an Everest expedition.
The minister wished the team success in the expedition and expressed his appreciation of the Indian Army for supporting the youth programmes in the state. He further mentioned that the multi-crore project of building a stadium at Bishnupur by the Indian Army will give an impetus to the sports movement among the urban population.
Thereafter, GOC 57 Mt Div. DS Hooda in his speech praised the youth of the region for their personality development.
The GOC also interacted with the students and announced a programme ‘Know Your State” which aims to give the students from all the districts an opportunity to explore the state. Symposia, group discussion, cultural programmes among the participants will also be a part of the initiative for personality development and leadership quality, the GOC added.
In the meantime, while addressing the gathering, the team leader Dr L Surjit Singh, said that the expedition is aimed at Mt. Everest Expedition 2011 being planned by the Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association.
The function this morning was also attended by AK Mirabai, Chief Patron of the Manipur Mountaineering Institute (MMI) as a special guest.