IMPHAL, September 25: “Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has assured me a DSP rank post in the state Home department”, said Olympian Ngangbam Soniya Chanu said this evening at the Khuman Lampak Olympic Bhawan.
She had also told a handful of local media persons that she would represent the state in the Sr National Weightlifting Championship in December, in case the state government hand over her appointment letter at the earliest.
The weightlifter was at the Khuman Lampak sports complex to attend a reception programme and had met with some local media persons after the end of the programme.
She continued that the CM had expressed the assurance during a meeting yesterday at the CM’s official Bunglow.
Olympian Soniya Chanu is presently employed as an Inspector with the Uttar Pradesh Police.
She continued that if she has the chance to stay in the state, she would love to help all the new comers of the state and share her experience with them.
Continuing that she started her weightlifting career in the month of July, 1996, she said that there is a lot of difference in what the state players are getting in terms of training facilities and diets in the state as compared to others outside the state.
She continued that players of the state are God-gifted is true, however due to the lack in training facilities and diets, our players cannot continue for long.
If our players are given proper training facilities and diets, they can go a long way, the Olympian said.
Meanwhile, the reception ceremony held at the Manipur Olympic Bhawan meeting hall organized by Manipur Weightlifting Association.
Speaking at the reception, the weightlifter said a player should never break his or her coach’s guideline and continue with hard work. One should never start aiming for the Olympics or international and national awards.
Achievements will come as one progress with hard work, she said.
She further donated a cheque of Rs 50000 to the Manipur Weightlifting Association.
She further talked about her past and how she managed to reached the Olympics.
Meanwhile, it may be mentioned that during the state felicitation function of the Olympians from the state, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh had already announced for the five state London Olympians, state government jobs not below the rank of which they are serving.