Northeast India’s unexplored yet potential solution to Unemployment- SPORTS!

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-By Jessica Passah

Whenever sports is discussed in the Northeast, there is a focus which sits primarily on football with the 3 M's and the talent that emerges from the states. Mizoram, Manipur and Meghalaya—they dominate conversations of football but however, on talking about other sports we cannot ignore how much Manipur has contributed to the overall sports scene of the country. From legendary football players like Renedy Singh to world class boxers like Mary Kom, athletes from Manipur have been able to reach heights in their fields.

What is also so great is the variety of sports the players from the state dominate in. Hockey being the national sport of the country also has a number of players from the state. Sushila Chanu who is the Indian hockey captain is also from Manipur. She is one of many from the state who have made a name for themselves. It is surprising that with the many restrictions Manipur has with blockades and such, the youth of the state manage to train and develop their skills to reach great levels. At the last Olympics held in Rio, 8 athletes from the Northeast were part of the contingent; out of the eight, six belong to Manipur! The variety of sports they represented ranged from hockey, weight lifting and archery. The other states need to follow suit and help ensure that young athletes get the right training, direction and development to hone their skills to reach global platforms.

Oinam Bembem Devi recently won the Arjuna Award! The female footballer from the state has had a long career which spans over two decades! She is also only the second female footballer to receive this honour. What is heartening is how players from Manipur have not been predominantly male. Female athletes have managed to climb to the top of their sport in the country. This would be difficult to say for any other state in India let alone the Northeast

With the proposed sports university to be set up in Manipur, things will only get better for athletes in the state.  Athletes from the state know that sport is actually a way out of hard circumstances and most of the athletes come from very humble beginnings and with sub-par education, they put their focus on developing their skill. There was a time where being a sports person was not a very lucrative career choice and parents would push their children to focus on formal education but times are changing. Being a footballer in the country can now pay bills and give one a lifestyle envious to many and with talent so widely scouted for, sports organizations all over the country continually look to the Northeast to find the next big name in sport.

Sports can create jobs and give many young athletes hope. It can improve the standard of living of the people and with real money being involved, it is only a matter of time before more and more investments come in to ensure that the potential of the athletes are not wasted. The Northeast is lacking in many aspects but there is no dearth of talent in the region. All that is needed is the right push and correct backing and if governments were to really put in time and money to promote its growth, every state in the region can have world class players.

-The writer can be contacted at jessica.passah.2@gmail.com