IMPHAL, January 28: State Works Minister Dr Kh Ratan called a press conference today at the Komlakhong Water Sports Complex at Mayang Imphal regarding the upcoming 23rd National Canoe Sprint Championship which the state will be hosting at the water sports complex from January 30 to February 4.
Addressing the press conference which was also attended by the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association Secretary General Balbir Singh Kushwa, the State Works Minister who is also the chairman of the organizing committee of the championship urged the people of the state not to create any disruptions by calling or imposing bandhs or blockades. He further appealed to all to cooperate with the organizing committee for the success of the event.
“This National championship is not only being held for the first in the state but is the first of its kind in the entire NE region,” the Minister said and added that the state has a lot more locations suitable for the sport . He also said that whenever the state is set on organizing an international level event, the government will develop all the needed infrastructures.
Balbir Singh Kushwa while expressing his satisfaction with the way the organizing committee has been handling the organizing of the event in such a short notice said the event will be participated by around 700 athletes and 250 technical officials from 27-28 states of the country. The national association secretary general also lauded the sporting talent of people in the state, saying that players from Manipur constitute nearly 50 percent of all Indian players in various disciplines.
Hinting at the possibility of international Kayaking and Canoeing events in the state, he said efforts are on to bring such international and Asian championships in Manipur. India has three centres for the sport, one each at Kerala, Bhopal and Manipur, he said before adding that there is also an Olympic qualifying championship in 2016.
He continued, “Sports runs in the veins of the Manipuri people, which is shown by the fact that a state with only 27 lakh population had five athletes in the recent London Olympics with one bringing home a medal.”
AMCKA president Jotin Waikhom lauded the Kuki State Demand Committee for lifting its indefinite bandh.
Meanwhile, according to a source, nine buses have left Imphal along the National Highway 2 to pick up the players and officials.