Shillong, March 13: On behalf of the Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA), and the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs,(DSYA), Government of Meghalaya, a detail brief on the preparation for the National Games was submitted by Meghalaya State Olympic Association on 11th March 2023 to Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee Dr PT Usha.
President, Mr Kalyan Choubey, Secretary General, and to Shri. Amitabh Sharma, Executive Council Member, & Chairman, GTCC – 37th National Games, of the Indian Olympic Association, by Shri. John F Kharshiing, Working President, in presence of Ms Matsiewdor War Nongbri, Vice President, of Meghalaya State Olympic Association who was also representing Archery Federation of India, at the Special Annual General Meeting of the Indian Olympic Association chaired by Dr PT Usha, MP, & President, IOA.
During the meeting the newly elected President of IOA stated that the IOA is committed to conducting the National Games as alloted 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.
The Working President, Meghalaya State Olympic Association, Shri. 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 Feb 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 advance stage in both Shillong and Tura (sub city) in preparation for the hosting of the National Games.
The Working President, MSOA informed the President, Indian Olympic Association that as per the timelines of the progress of the various ongoin infrastructure works 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 President IOA 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 Presidents 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 Shri. Amitabh Sharma, Executive Council Member, and 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 President IOA had called on all to unite for the sake of the athletes and to strive towards the goal set by Shri. Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India that India must become a sports super power by 2036, said Mr. John F Kharshing Working President of the MSOA.
