IMPHAL, August 10: All sportspersons from the State who have brought laurel to the State with their medal winning performances at the recently concluded XX Commonwealth Games at Glasgow will be received at the Raj Bhawan on August 12, said parliamentary secretary YAS and Tourism M Prithiviraj.
He was speaking at the reception ceremony of Gold medal winner in women’s weightlifting 48 kg category K Sanjita Chanu of Umathel Awang Leikai at the local community hall.
Prithiviraj said out of the 224-strong Indian contingent at the CWG, 14 were from the small State of Manipur.
He added what is even more impressive is that of the 14 sportspersons, eight brought home medals including a Gold.
Some of them have government jobs, and now the government is trying to provide government jobs to the other remaining medal winners, he said, adding that as the parliamentary secretary of YAS, he will try his level best to appoint them in government jobs.
The August 12 reception of the medal winners will be attended by the State Governor VK Duggal as the chief guest and the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh as the president.
Local MLA K Ranjit said he was excited when the name of a Manipuri girl was announced to have won a Gold, opening India’s medal account at Glasgow.
Soon after, he started inquiring about the girl’s background, and found that the girl was from his own constituency, he said.
Ranjit said he is very fortunate to have such a girl in his constituency.
Sanjita has brought laurel to Sugunu and Umathel village, he asserted.
The world is to be conquered through sports and not through war, he said before adding that it is a privilege for him to acknowledge that a girl from his constituency has become the pride of Manipur and made her mark in the international arena.
During the reception ceremony, Moirang MLA M Prithiviraj donated Rs 20 thousand while six special contractors donated Rs 10 thousand each for Sanjita.
Local MLA Ranjit announced Rs 50 thousand and a tracksuit for the CWG Gold medal winner.
Ranjit also announced Rs 20 thousand and a tracksuit for Ranjan who was Sanjita’s first coach.
The local MLA also asserted that Sugunu has a vast sports talent.
Dronacharya awardee boxing coach Ibomcha who has been selected as one of the panel members for the selection of Dronacharya Award is also from Umathel, he said.
Ranjit, who was the works minister in the previous Congress led government of the State said road connectivity in Sugunu has seen much development in the past few years under the guidance of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.
He said construction of the eight and a half km long Wangoo-Umathel road has also been included in the PMGSY scheme and the earth levelling work of the road has been completed already.
Rs 14.55 crore has already been sanctioned for the development of the Kakching to Kalika road, Ranjit said.
