New Delhi: Enthusiastic over Lovlina Borgohain’s achievement in the Tokyo Olympics, Rajya Sabha MP from Assam Ajit Kumar Bhuyan has appealed to Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur to construct a state-of-the-art boxing stadium at Golaghat with adequate facilities for training upcoming boxers from the upper Assam region.
It may be mentioned here that Lovlina who bagged bronze medal in women’s boxing championship at the Tokyo Olympics hails from the Golaghat district in upper Assam. “This is how we can celebrate the victory of Lovlina Borgohain and can create more talented players in Assam,” said Bhuyan.
The Parliamentarian further said, “Today we are rejoicing at her victory but at the same time hundreds of others are waiting for their turn in the limelight. We will have to fulfill their dreams and that will be a great tribute to the hard-earned victory of Lovlina.”
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Asserting that lack of amenities have deprived many sports persons to reach big stage, Bhuyan said, “Government of India should implement adequate schemes for the young population of northeast and provide necessary amenities like indoor and outdoor sports stadiums in at least every district headquarters for various games.”
It’s pertinent to mention that the Central government has launched ‘Khelo India – National Programme for Development of Sports’ with the twin objectives of mass participation and promotion of excellence in sports across the country in 2016 and revamped in 2017.
A total of Rs 405.67 crore was sanctioned by the sports ministry under Khelo India initiative for the year 2019-20, followed by Rs 211.46 crore for 2020-21 and Rs 71.27 for 2021-22.
Statistics in possession of ETV Bharat said that Manipur has received the highest amount of Rs 13.18 crore under the Khelo India initiative for 2021-2211 followed by Maharashtra Rs 10.27 crore and Telangana Rs 7.14 crore.
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