Meghalaya still on track to host National Games

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 12: The Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA) and the state’s Sports and Youth Affairs department have submitted details to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on the preparation for the National Games.

During the special annual general meeting of the IOA held yesterday, the newly elected President of IOA Dr PT Usha stated that the IOA is committed to conducting the National Games as allotted and is trying to conduct the National Games every year so as to clear the backlog of pending National Games of Goa, Chattisgarh, Uttrakhand and Meghalaya.

MSOA working president John F Kharshiing, informed  the President  IOA that Meghalaya had to reschedule the entire preparation due to the two years of Covid-19 lockdown, and had recently successfully revived and conducted the 3rd state games in February 2020, the 4th State Games in May 2022 including the prestigious 2nd North East Games in November 2022 and that construction of a number of prestigious sports infrastructure was already ongoing and in an advance stage in both Shillong and Tura (sub city) in preparation for the hosting of the National Games.

Kharshiing informed the IOA president that as per the timelines of the progress of the various ongoing infrastructure work Meghalaya would be tentatively ready to host the National Games in 2025. He also informed the IOA officials that late RK Sachetti, former Chairman, GTCC Committee for Meghalaya, had visited Shillong in January 2020, however since his sad sudden demise in May 2021, the IOA was yet to communicate who would be replacing him to coordinate with the MSOA and the State Government relating to the National Games.

The IOA president informed that the new office bearers have just taken over the Indian Olympic Association and will review the submissions and will be connecting with the Meghalaya State Olympic Association shortly to review the timelines of the pending National Games.

Prior to the meeting in the IOA President’s official chambers the MSOA officials attended the Special Annual General Meeting (SAGM) presided over by Dr PT Usha, wherein among other matters the IOA SAGM heard the report from Amitabh Sharma, Executive Council Member, & Chairman, GTCC – 37th National Games, Indian Olympic Association, who briefed the house that based on their recent visit to Goa and meetings with the Goa State Government it has been confirmed that the XXXVII National Games will be held in Goa this year during end October 2023.

Earlier in her opening remarks the IOA president had called on all to unite for the sake of the athletes and to strive towards the goal set by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi that India must become a sports super power by 2036.