IMPHAL, October 9: The State Chief Minister O Ibobi today kicked off the 25th Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti National Football and Archery Championship at the Kuman Lampak indoor stadium.
The championship is being organised jointly by the NVS, Shillong region, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyala, Khumbong Imphal.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that the main objective of establishing the JNV schools is to give quality education, particularly to the students of rural areas, and to bring about all round development in the field of education.
He continued that the championship will help the students from different parts of the country to learn different cultures and costumes of the people, besides participating in the games and sports. This will help in the integration of the country.
Further, he maintained that sports is an essential part of education because the health of a country is manifested in its prowess. In this regard, the government has been giving incentives to talented sports persons to motivate them, he added.
As a part of the opening ceremony, march past contingents of different teams took part in the oath taking ceremony. Students of JNV Khumbong displayed Bharatiyam and cultural programmes were presented by the students of JNV, Imphal East.
The CM released a souvenir earlier during the function.
M Prithibiraj presided over the function, while Vidyalaya Management Committee chairman, K Radhakumar was the guest of honour.
Dr NS Reddi, Deputy commissioner NVS, Regional Office Shillong was also present in the function.
Meanwhile in the opening match of football, Shillong Region prevailed over Jaipur Region with the score line 6-0, while in the second match Pune drubbed Chandigrah by 2-0.
Eight regions will participate in the championship including Hyderabad Region, Patna Region, Pune Region, Shillong Region, Luknow Region, Bhopal Region, Jaipur Region and Chandrigar Region.
While seven teams will participate in the U-19 boy`™s and U-17 boy`™s category in the 25th NVS National Football Championship; and altogether 250 archers, including boys and girls will participate in the U-14, U-17 and U-19 respectively. It will be played in 8 units especially in Indian Round and Recurve Round.