[ Pradeep Kumar ]
NAHARLAGUN, 9 Apr: Education Minister Taba Tedir has been elected as the president of the Arunachal Olympic Association (AOA), replacing Padi Richo.
The AOA on Friday elected 30 office bearers for a four-year term.
Expressing appreciation for Richo for “laying a strong foundation for the sports bridge,” Tedir said he is committed to toe the same path.
When asked whether he would translate the dream of Sports Minister Mama Natung to make Arunachal a sports hub into reality, Tedir said that the AOA would “work on a planned strategy to achieve the goal to ensure that talented sportspersons of the state win Olympic medals.”
Tedir under his special power appointed Boleng MLA Ojing Tasing as associate vice president of the AOA. Other officer bearers included senior vice president Abraham K Techi; vice presidents Nili Likha Kamin, Dr Tadang Minu, Tarh Tagin, Kipa Takum, Kipa Kaha and Toko Teki; secretary-general Bamang Tago; treasurer Bulang Marik; joint secretaries Tai Hipik, Tagru Magong, Pakjar Taipodia, Nabam Chada, Charu Govin, Vijay Sonam, Teli Kahi, Techi Peko, Kamta Lapung and Sikka Gapak, and 10 executive members.
Richo on his part said that, “despite opposition from various quarters,” he was successful in “introducing 5 percent job quota; independent allocation of Rs 700 crore to sports department for district-wise allocation, which ultimately rose to Rs 1,100 crore; and creation of the Arunachal Pradesh Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board with provision of 1 percent cess of every working department during the tenure of the then chief minister Nabam Tuki.”
He even informed about the “legal victory against the state government for not implementing sports quota.”
“Though a few centres of sports excellence have been allocated to the state, there is scope for one in each district with state MP Kiren Rijiju being union MoS for sports and youth affairs,” he said.
Expressing strong opposition to the establishment of the Sports of Authority of India’s (SAI) regional centre in Imphal in Manipur, he suggested “trying for a SAI sub-centre in the state for expansion of sports activities, as such centre gets Rs 150 crore annual allocation.”
Terming the AOA “guardian of all such bodies,” Assam Olympic Association secretary-general Lokiya Konwar exhorted the AOA to “tap the vast potentials for the state to rise to a higher pedestal.”
He suggested to the new team to “set a target to ensure all district units come under AOA platform.”
“The AOA as monitoring body has to look into physical and psychological training, diets and anti-doping aspects to make the players vie for Olympic medals and committed work is the key to success,” he said.
While Sihan Tata presented the details of accounts, Abraham highlighted the success stories of the AOA “despite various trials and tribulations.”
