Manipur, the powerhouse of sports activities in the North-East, will soon become the first state in the entire region to have Canoeing and Kayaking training facilities.
Right now, Kayaking facilities of Sports Authority of India are concentrated in Alleppey (Kerala), Jagatpur (Orissa), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) and Portblair (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
By starting Kayaking Centre in Manipur, SAI will be acknowledging the contribution made by the state in providing some of the best women paddlers to the country.
This was assured by Jiji Thomson, Director General, SAI to Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur during the former's maiden visit to the hill state.
Secretary General of canoeing and kayaking federation also urged the DG, SAI to start water sports activity in Manipur.
The chief minister called on Thomson to set up a new Special Area Games (SAG) Center in the Backward Hill Area (New Lamka) of the state.
During his stay at the state capital, DG toured SAI NERC Imphal and interacted with officers, coaches, staff and trainees of the various schemes such as STC, SAG and COE.
The ongoing and pending projects, which are being taken up at various units under SAI, NERC, Imphal, will be completed on a priority basis, said Thomson.
Thomson acknowledged the fact that five of the elite sportspersons who represented the country in the London Olympics 2012 were from Manipur. This includes magnificent Mary Kom, the lone woman boxer who brought laurels to the country.
The DG also visited the SAI units -- SAG Imphal, SAG Utlou situated in and around Imphal city.
