Manipur Governor La Ganesan on Sunday highlighted that active participation in sports and athletics would pay rich dividends in terms of fitness, well being and happiness.
La Ganesan was speaking at the closing ceremony of the 20th Manipur Veterans Table Tennis Championship 2022-23 organised by Manipur Veterans Table Tennis Association (MVTTA) at Kangshang of Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Imphal East.
At the gathering, he said that MVTTA is doing a great job with a view to hunt talents from the pool which has not yet represented the state in any Veteran National Championship. He said, this championship will provide an opportunity to those players who had not represented the state to do better, while also find new talents who can be reckoned for representing the state later.
Organising such events have proved that table tennis is inclusive and a sport for all and one of the highest profiled and played sports in the world. It is a sport that can be played by all ages and quite useful for health, he said. If wealth is lost, nothing is lost but if health is lost, something is lost, and we need to remain healthy by playing such sports, he added.
He continued that table tennis is a fairly popular game and also played as a competitive sport in several countries. It has also been an Olympic sport since 1988. This game as a competitive sport is popular in East Asia and Europe, he mentioned. He further said that if Manipur has to do better, there will be a need to upgrade the facilities and the coaching standard for which both the state government and MVTTA have to work together.
He congratulated the winners and competitors who had played during the championship. He also thanked MVTTA for organising the championship. He also donated Rs 25,000 to encourage the organisers and the players. Later, he handed over the prizes to the winners and runners up of the championship. It may be mentioned that the 20th Manipur Veterans Table Tennis Championship 2022-23 began from January 13, 2023 after a gap of three years.
The championship was organised under the Category of Women’s 40+ Singles, Women’s 50+ Singles, Mixed Doubles, Women’s Doubles, Men’s 60+ Doubles, Men’s 50+ Doubles, Men’s 40+ Doubles, Men’s 70+ Singles, Men’s 60+ Singles, Men’s 50+ Singles and Men’s 40+ Singles. Players from various districts of the state participated in the championship.
Secretary to the governor of Manipur Bobby Waikhom; retired chief engineer, PWD, Manipur and President, MVTTA O Digendra Singh; CO Balakrishna Rao of 2109 Battalion, CRPF; organizing secretary, MVTTA Sh Amrita Singh; secretary, MVTTA H Nirendra; MVTTA members and invitees attended the closing ceremony among others. (DIPR)
