IMPHAL, December 13: A former women`™s boxing world champion Laishram Sarita Devi today appreciated the support she has received from several sports icon of the country as she awaits a final ruling of the International Boxing Association, AIBA following her protest during the medal presentation ceremony in the Incheon Asian Games earlier this year.
The boxer, facing a provisional suspension following her protest, was speaking to media persons during a brief interaction at the North East Sports Conclave 2014 at Hotel Imphal by Classic conference hall today.
She told media persons that she expects the AIBA to come out with its final ruling by next month.
Sarita at the same time lauded the decision of the government to establish a Sports University in the State and said it will immensely help the sports players of the State.
A seminar `Scopes & Potential of North East in Sports` and an interaction session on `Roadmap for Sports University in Manipur` were the main highlights of the conclave which was being organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in association with North Eastern Council (NEC), Ministry of DoNER Government of India and Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of Manipur.
Speaking at the conclave, secretary North Eastern Council Ameising Luikham observed the need to develop and upgrade all the local sports institutions in the State to the level of regional institutions and added he will provide all possible help.
He said Manipur has a lot of potential in sports and has brought much laurels to the country however there is still lots of room for improvement.
He further appealed to the sports bodies in the State to work harder to develop sports in the State.
Parliamentary secretary M Prithiviraj said in the past a land was considered powerful only if they have much artillery, however, today the concept of a power-house has drastically changed from that perception. Today countries are considered sports`™ powerhouse if the people of the State have the potential of winning in sports and acquire several medals in a sporting event.
Former National Men Hockey captain Bharat Chetri and Anshu Jamsenpa who have summited the Mount Everest three times and boxer L Sarita Devi attended the conclave as special guests.
A NNN report said the conclave dwelled on the proposed Sports University to be set up in Manipur. It acknowledged that Manipur alone has been claiming most of the medals in national and major international sporting events compared to other States of the region.
NEC secretary Luikham assured to improve the present stadium of Manipur Mountaineering & Trekking Association (MMTA), it said.
I Hemochndra said the case of boxer L Sarita, who has been banned by AIBA, will be raised in the coming meeting of Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the NNN report continued.