Manipur, IMPHAL, August 19: The 23rd Junior and Sub-Junior National Canoeing and Kayaking championship will be held in the state from December 10 to 14 at the Komlakhong, Imphal West Water Sports Complex.
This was informed by the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association, general secretary Balbir Singh Kushwa at the Old Secretariat chamber of state Works Minister today during a press conference.
He further continued that half of the male players of the country are Manipuris, while more than 75 percent of international female players of the country are from the tiny state. The Manipur players have been dominating the national scene for some time, he said.
He said that around 450 sub junior and junior boys and girls will participate in the championship.
The events to be included in the championship are K1, C1, K2, C2, K4 and C4, he said.
The national general secretary added that the national association is trying to incorporate the national senior events in the said championship.
He continued that it will be decided during the general body meeting of the association to be held at Udaipur on August 24.
The championship’s Organizing Committee chairman and the state Works Minister, Kh Ratankumar said the canoeing and kayaking is not a popular sport in the state. The state will be hosting the championship with the main objective of popularizing the sport in the state.
Manipur with its large number of water bodies has lots of potentials in the sports, there are also several job opportunities in the state regarding the sport, he said.
He continued that he had intimidated the Chief Minister regarding the purchase of the boats and equipment required for the championship. The purchase is in process with the YAS department, he added.
He said lack of infrastructure in the state has adversely affected the state players in the past, however if the championship is successfully organized, then the national association has also assured that the state will host an international tournament in 2016. He said most of the stat players of the sports are concentrated at Moirang as there is a water sports complex at Takmu, near Sendra Bishnupur.
The state has also decided to construct water sports complex in the all the districts of the state to churned out players from all the districts, he said. The conference was also attended by members of the state association.