Northeast gets four Khelo India State Centres of Excellence

KOHIMA:

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on December 22 virtually inaugurated eight Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE), including in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram.

The other states include Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha and Telangana.

“The central government wants to develop sports culture in India,” Rijiju said while speaking on the occasion.

Khelo India has become a brand, everyone including boys and girls, want to be a part of the Khelo India programme. It has become the most popular sporting event in the country; he said.

The Government of India has collaborated with various state governments to create basic facilities for the youngsters.

The government is starting the KISCE on top of the existing National Centre of Excellence in partnership with state governments.

“The ministry is ready to provide necessary financial help to ensure that the KISCE develops with proper infrastructure and manpower. Emphasis on making India a global superpower with high-quality coaching and training,” he said.

Advisor for Youth Affairs and Sports of Nagaland, Zale Neikha conveyed gratitude to the Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for setting up the Khelo India State Centre of Excellence and giving the opportunity to Nagaland in the first phase of the sports ministry programme.

The priority sports for Nagaland are wrestling, archery and boxing, he said while asserting that Nagaland will try to hone these skills.

“We will make sure that our young Indian sportspersons take up this opportunity seriously in the next four years and make a mark in the history of Indian Olympics following in the footsteps of Dr T Ao and Chekrovolu Swro and make our great nation proud,” he said. (PTI)