Dr Chai
Dr Chai addressing the inaugural function of the State Sports Academy. Image - Northeast Now

Arunachal Pradesh Sports and Youth Minister Dr Mohesh Chai in presence of Food and Civil Supplies Minister Kamlung Mosang and MLA Laisam Simai on Friday dedicated the State Sports Academy at Miao to the people of Tirap, Changlang and Longding (TCL) districts.

Miao, a sub-division in Changlang district is located about 25 km from the Assam-Arunachal border. It is one of the 60 constituencies of Arunachal.

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Addressing a gathering at the Miao Sports Complex, Dr Chai said the main objective behind creation of the sports academy in the TCL region was improve the ecosystem and sports culture in the TCL districts and also to identity prospective sports talent from the region and train them for excellence in sports.

Dr Chai said, “While it is the intent of the government to start many sports schools in the State, the academy in Miao will start as a temporary setup which will offer facilities of four sporting disciplines– archery, badminton, judo and table tennis.

The minister also mentioned that it is for the first time in the State that a sports academy is being set up in partnership with Sportseed Pvt Ltd, a New Delhi based leading sports education and consultancy organization.

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He emphasized that sports is not just a medium for fitness or pastime, but has emerged as a multi-billion dollar industry that can provide various employment and entrepreneurship opportunities to the children and youth of the State.

The State government’s policy on providing preference and reservations to medal winning athletes was also highlighted by the minister to all present.

Speaking on this occasion, Sportseed director Sudhanshu Fadnis mentioned that the school will be set up on the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model that is followed across the leading sporting nations of the world.

“Scientifically identified talent would be groomed in a manner where multi-sport exposure is provided in the initial years, prior to profiling and development into specific sports,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention here that due to several insurgency related incidents perpetrated by Naga groups in the Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts, the region is declared as “disturbed area” under section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 by the Home Ministry.

The NSCN (I-M) and NSCN (K) are engaged in a battle for supremacy in these three districts.

The cadres of Assam-based NDFB (S) and Ulfa (I) are also active, seeking shelter and transit in the state, particularly in the areas bordering Assam and Myanmar.