– NJ Thakuria
Guwahati: Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, in presence of Union sports minister Kiren Rijiju, inaugurated a newly constructed training centre cum sports complex of Sports Authority of India (SAI) at Lakhimpur which comprise a multipurpose
indoor stadium, players’ hostels and coaches apart from various other sports-related facilities. During the same function on 30 January 2021, Sonowal also released a guidebook on bodybuilding written in the Assamese language.
Addressing the gathering, he declared that the BJP led government in Dispur has formulated a new sports policy with an aim to promote sports as a career and hence urged the younger generation to take up sports seriously so that they can be successful in the field. He informed that under this policy the government rewarded sprinter Hima Das who won several awards at international athletic meets to the tune of rupees 1.60 crore and initiated steps for giving her appointment in a senior post of Assam Police.
Sonowal hoped that meaningful contributions by local talents would finally realize the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make India as one of the top ten countries in 2028 Olympics scheduled to be held in Los Angeles of the United States. Rijiju in his speech underlined that the sportspersons of northeast India would have to play a very vital role in making India as a successful contender in the forthcoming Olympics for which preparations have already been started. He appreciated Sonowal for his leadership to nurture and guide the sporting talents of Assam, which seconded by Parliamentarian Pradan Baruah, legislator Utpal Dutta, SAI officials Subhash Basumatary and Shiva Sarma etc.
