IMPHAL, October 8: The government wants to emphasis more on sports disciplines like shooting, archery, boxing, weightlifting and wrestling considering the sports disciplines have more medal prospects in the Rio Olympics, said Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Ajay Maken today at Imphal.
The Union Minister was speaking at an interaction programme at Olympic Bhavan, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Imphal.
He continued that the country has more prospects in certain sports disciplines as compared to other disciplines.
He continued that India’s target for the 2020 Olympics is to haul 25 medals and added that he has a huge belief that players from the state would have an important role in achieving that dream.
Meanwhile, the Union Minister assured that an international standard Football Academy will be constructed in state starting from 2013-14. The academy will be 100 bedded with 50-50 ratio for boys’ and girls’.
His Ministry will also help Mary Kom to turn her present academy into a world class academy.
Regarding the various woes faced by sportspersons of the state regarding their transportation to other parts of the country, he said he will personally request the Union Railway Minister to reopen the Railway reservation for sportsperson at the earliest.
He said the Centre would continue to assist the state government in developing all parts of the country. He said multi-purpose indoor halls like the one presently under construction at Senapati district costing Rs 6 crore will also be constructed at all district headquarters.
He said the Centre has already funded Rs 56 crore to develop SAI, Takyelpat during the past three four years.
The interaction programme was also attended by officials, coaches, of YAS, SAI NERC, MOA and others including sportspersons.
The Union Minister was accompanied by Director General Gopal Khrishna, Joint Secy, Sports Ministries of YAS, Onkar Kedia, PS to Minister of State (i/c) YAS, Amiya Chandra.
Meanwhile soon after his arrival at the state capital in the evening, the Union Minister had also inspected the Special Area Game, SAG, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex.