Manipuri sportsmen can win olympic medals : Brig Balbir

Kakching, Feb 6 : WITH AN objective of enabling India to win medals in the Olympic Games, 20 AR under 26 Sector Assam Rifles of HQ IG AR (South) have selected 17 talented young sports-persons of Manipur and sent them to the Army Sports Institute (ASI), Pune for giving them special coaching.

The selected sports-persons were flagged off today by Commander, 26 Sector, Brig Balbir Singh at a solemn ceremony held in the complex of 26 Sector at Pallel.

Speaking at the flag off ceremony, Brig Balbir Singh said, for the first time in Manipur, the 20 AR under 26 Sector launched a novel programme of selecting talented young sports-persons from the state with a view to bringing laurels for India.

The Commander said, the selected sports-persons will be given full coaching in seven different sports disciplines at the Army Sports Institute, Pune so that they would be able to compete and win medals in competitions including the Olympic Games, thus bringing laurels for India.

Brig Balbir Singh expressed confidence that after getting coaching from the Army Sports Institute, the sports-persons who are being flagged off today would be able to medals in the Olympic Games.

The commander further said that the selected 17 sports-persons would represent different communities, such as Naga, Kuki, Meetei, Muslim, etc of Manipur.

They would get complete sports training of international standard at ASI, Pune.

They would also be provided boarding and lodging and would be given education upto Class-X and training in army discipline upto the age of 17 and half.

By striving hard for winning Olympic medals, they would be able to give themselves employment, Brig Balbir Singh said.

Regarding the selection of the young sports-persons, the Commander of 26 Sector AR told the gathering that a trial selection was organised by the ASI, Pune from November 10 to 14 last year at the Maha Union Public Ground at Chandel under the strict supervision of international coaches, doctors and dedicated officers.

About 300 young boys participated in the trial selection.

Among them all, 26 boys within the age group of 10 to 12 were selected after close scrutiny.

Out of them 17 boys received call letters for coaching from the Institute.

Engcouraging the boys, Brig Balbir said, after getting full coaching from the Institute, they should try to win medals in the Olympic Games and fly the tri-colours of India in front of the whole world thus bringing fame and victory for India and Manipur.

Father of 11 year-old Md Warish from Thoubal district, who is one of the 17 boys selected for the coaching, expressed happiness and heart felt gratitude to the AR for the novel programme launched by them for future generations.

He said, he and his 11 year-old son never dreamt of being selected for the coaching, but from today the path of his son becoming a soldier has begun to be paved.