Staff Reporter
Shillong:
The Working President of Meghalaya State Olympic Association, John F Kharshiing, has announced that the state will tentatively be ready to host the National Games in 2025. Kharshiing made this statement during a meeting with the newly elected President of Indian Olympic Association (IOA), PT Usha.
Kharshiing, informed the President of the Indian Olympic Association that Meghalaya had to reschedule the entire preparation for upcoming sporting events due to the two years of Covid-19 lockdown.
However, he also reported that the state has successfully conducted the 3rd State Games in February 2020, the 4th State Games in May 2022, and the prestigious 2nd North East Games in November 2022.
Kharshiing further added that the construction of a number of prestigious sports infrastructure projects is already underway and in an advanced stage in both Shillong and Tura, keeping in mind the hosting of the National Games. The ongoing infrastructure development is expected to enhance the state’s ability to host national-level sporting events.
The Working President highlighted that the Covid-19 lockdown had caused significant disruptions in the state’s preparation for these events. However, despite the challenges, Meghalaya is making commendable progress towards the promotion of sports and fitness in the state.
The announcement of Meghalaya’s readiness to host the National Games in 2025 is expected to boost the state’s profile in the sporting world and attract more attention from sports enthusiasts. It is also expected to inspire more people to take up sports and lead a healthy lifestyle in the state.
In the meeting, the newly elected President of Indian Olympic Association (IOA), PT Usha, expressed the IOA’s commitment to conducting the National Games as scheduled. She also stated that the IOA is trying to conduct the National Games every year in order to clear the backlog of pending National Games of various states including Goa, Chattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Meghalaya.
Usha emphasized the importance of conducting national-level sporting events to promote sports and fitness in the country. She also appreciated Meghalaya’s efforts towards promoting sports and fitness in the state, despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The IOA’s commitment to conducting the National Games as scheduled and clearing the backlog of pending games is a positive development for sports enthusiasts across the country. This move is expected to boost the profile of sports in various states and inspire more people to take up sports and lead a healthy lifestyle.