Officials from the Angami Sports Association (ASA) in an exclusive interview with APN News in Kohima informed that it would organise the 50th anniversary of ASA sports meet on February 2022 even as they hope the state would pass off through the pandemic before the games and sports commence.

ASA president Lhoubeizo Kesiyie said, “The ASA was formed in the year 1967, so we have celebrated our golden Jubilee in the year 2017 as per the formation of the year. So the upcoming event in 2022 would not be celebrated as golden jubilee but 50th anniversary sports meet celebration”. He also announced that a total of 480 contingents from the four affiliating units of sports and youth associations — Northern Angami Sports Association, Southern Angami Sports Association, Western Angami Youth Association and Chakhroma Youth Organisation — will be taking part in the 50th ASA Sports Meet 2022

He informed that all forms of athletic events, indoor and outdoor games including traditional Naga wrestling will be conducted. For the first time, he added, “indigenous games like bamboo walk, tug of war, war cry and cultural song competition will also be organised. Our meet will be a span of seven days and we will be using two outdoor ground and four indoor grounds for the games and sports.”

It was informed that three venues — Kohima Local Ground, State Indoor Stadium and Indira Gandhi Stadium in the state capital would be utilised to conduct the mega events.

Seyielhouvi Nagi, general secretary of ASA, updated that total prize money of
Rs 4, 63,000 have been set aside for athletics, games and other events while Rs 8, 70,000 has been earmarked for the Naga style wrestling. He added, “The total prize money for all the events for the 50^th ASA meet 2022 comes to 13, 33,000. During the meet, all the Covid Sop’s and guidelines given by the government will be strictly maintained and followed”.

Kesiyie have urged all the sportspersons of Angami community to prepare themselves mentally and physically to dignify the “special sports meet” scheduled for next year.

NAGALAND CELEBRATES 75TH INDIA’S INDEPENDENCE DAY

As Nagaland celebrate the 75th Independence Day at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat Plaza on Sunday in Kohima chief minister Neiphiu Rio hoisted the National Flag at the venue before taking the Rashtriya Salute and inspected the parade contingents consisting of Assam Rifles, 78th CRPF Bn, 37th BSF, DEF Kohima, 4th NAP Bn, 10th NAP (IR) Bn, 15th NAP (IR) Mahila Bn, STF, Home Guards and Civil Defence, Nagaland Police Central Brass Band, PTS and 14th Assam Rifles Pipe Band.

Speaking during the occasion, chief minister Neiphiu Rio stated that the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly has come together, irrespective of party affiliations, on the Naga Political Issue and common peoples issues. While taking this spirit of collectiveness further, in the recently concluded session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, he informed that the members unanimously passed a resolution appealing to the negotiating parties on the same lines as resolved by the Core Committee. “The House appealed to the Naga Political negotiating groups to come together in order to hammer out their differences, and give the people an inclusive solution, which is honourable and acceptable,” he said.

Meanwhile, he maintained that the artists, musicians and cultural ambassadors from Nagaland have added much to the vibrant diversity of the country and in the fields of public affairs, bureaucracy, judiciary, sports and the fourth estate, while the citizens of the state have served the country with exemplary distinction. 

On Covid-19 preparedness, he asserted that they have taken preventive measures in time, infrastructure while moving swiftly to augment the health infrastructure, particularly the availability of oxygen across the state, “the most critical element in the fight against Covid-19”. From modest oxygen facilities since last year, the chief minister informed that they have 6 functional PSA Oxygen Plants with a daily capacity of 3.7 Metric Ton and another 19 plants are under installation in various District Hospitals and some Community Health Centres.

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He also apprised that a total of 1816 oxygen concentrators and 6082 oxygen cylinders of various capacities have been made available in the state. He maintained that they have provided equipment to the government as well as private health facilities so that sufficient oxygen supported beds including ICU and HDU beds are available to meet any emergency. 

Besides the 3 BSL laboratories, he said they have also established 25 Truenat and 362 Rapid Antigen Testing facilities for Covid-19 across the state, adding that they are also building a 200 bedded hospital for acute medical care in CIHSR Dimapur which is likely to get operational in a few weeks time.