Imphal (DIPR):Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has announced that the State Cabinet in its recent meeting had created 18 posts reserved for Olympians from the State in the Youth Affairs & Sports Department. He stated this while attending the reception ceremony of the hockey player and Tokyo Olympics Bronze Medalist Nilakanta Sharma organized at Kontha Ahallup, Imphal East on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister further informed that the created posts included 10 posts of Assistant Director for participants, five posts of Deputy Director for medal winners and three posts of Joint Director for Gold Medal winners at Olympic Games. He also stated that a grand reception ceremony of the athletes from the state, who participated in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, would be organized at the City Convention Centre this month and added that the respective cash rewards and job appointment orders for the remaining Olympians would be handed over to them on the occasion.
Biren maintained that the State Government has sincere commitment towards developing the field of games and sports as it takes a major role in instilling good discipline and manners among the youths. As the Government is putting in much effort to end the drug menace from the State, it is imperative to encourage the youths, make them feel interested in games and sports and divert their minds from getting addicted to intoxicating substances, he added.
Expressing proud feelings on the heroic performances and achievements of the State’s athletes in the recent Tokyo Olympics, he stated that the young and talented Olympians would be a source of inspiration and motivation among the youths of the State. He expressed hope that the expertise of the Olympians would be an important input in training the younger generations.
The reception programme was also attended by Forest Minister Awangbow Newmai, Education Minister Sorokhaibam Rajen and President of Hockey India Gyanendro Ningombam among others.
Earlier, Nilakanta Sharma and Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam were received by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and Education Minister Sorokhaibam Rajen upon their arrival at the Bir Tikendrajit International Airport. The Olympians were accorded a rousing welcome by the fans gathered at the airport to honour their outstanding performances at the Tokyo Olympics.
