Soon to set up ‘Olympic Bhavan’, CM Khandu encourages Karate champions to lead NE as ‘Hub of Talent’

Itanagar, December 18: Dedicating ‘Olympic Bhavan’, Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated the two-day 5th North East National Level Karate Championship in Nyokum Lapang General Gound, Itanagar. CM Khandu said that “Olympic Bhavan would be set up for the convenience of the visiting sportspersons and officials.” 

Addressing the event, CM Khandu announced a modern multi-purpose indoor stadium in the vicinity of the state capital and urged the department of sports to identify a suitable site for it.

"Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore promised a multi-purpose indoor stadium. We need to identify a suitable plot immediately and pursue with the ministry," he said.

Being held for the second time in the state, this edition of the championship will witness 10 teams - Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Assam and host Arunachal Pradesh besides a team each from Arunachal Pradesh Police Sports Control Board, Assam Rifles and Darjeeling Gorkha Karate Association - from the region wise against each other.

CM Khandu lauded the unity and coordination among the state-level karate association of the region in projecting the Northeast as a hub of promising and talented players.

He said owing to pioneers like Likha Tara, who heads North East States Karate-do Federation of India, karate has emerged as a sport that the states from the region excel in.

"Our youths, particularly from Arunachal Pradesh, have carved a niche not only in regional and national levels but also in international tournaments," he said.

Further CM Khandu expressed gratitude to the state karate association for giving ample opportunities to players by not missing a single tournament of any level since its inception.