13th Inter-District Catch Them Young Tournament 2021 got underway at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima on November 11. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 11
A two-day long 13th Inter-District Catch Them Young Tournament 2021 got underway here today at Indira Gandhi Stadium under the aegis of Department of Youth Resources & Sports, Nagaland.
A total of 89 boys and 78 girls selected from 12 districts including 38 officials have registered for this tournament, which will continue till November 12. 167 young athletes will compete for top honour in badminton, table tennis and athletics.
‘There are no shortcuts in sports’
Inaugurating the tournament as the special guest, Abu Metha, advisor to Chief Minister Nagaland said ‘there are no shortcuts in sports, like elsewhere and if you put in your hard work, success will come searching for you’.
He encouraged the young athletes that nothing is impossible in this world, especially in sports.
To reach to higher level, he said “You have to sweat extra bucket. You have to run to extra mille.”
Today, in the arena of games and sports, being Nagaland champion is not good enough and being national champion is also no longer good enough but to be champion in sports means an international champion, the advisor said.
Metha added that the bottom line of success is measured no longer by certificates but by international medals and the amount of money one earn at the international arena.
He assured that the state government will continue to give utmost importance to the development of the youth activities and sports and games comes to the forefront which is the aspiration of the government.
He said that the aspiration of the Nagaland Olympic Association is for Nagaland to produce champions at the highest levels in sports in the months and years to come.
Metha added that to make that happen, the state, the citizens of the state, and all stakeholders must make investments and efforts towards realization of those dreams.
‘Nagas love for sports is growing fast’
Nagaland’s youth resources & sports director Akumla Chuba informed that the Catch Them Young is an annual programme of the department where young talents are identified with an aim to give greater opportunities for their future endeavours.
This event was started in 1974 with the motto “Catch Them Young and Teach Them Right.”
In the district level tournaments, conducted earlier across 12 districts this year, it registered total participants of 1,532.
This show that Nagas love for sports is growing fast and the message that sports is being seen as a profession and not merely as a hobby is quite clear, he said.
Meanwhile, the closing function will take place on November 12 at 2:00 PM with Wezope Kenye, secretary, Youth Resources & Sports, Nagaland as the special guest.
DAY 1 RESULT
Long jump (Boys) - 1st: Minphong- Mon District, 2nd: Khugawibo- Peren District
Long jump (Girls) - 1st: K. Neshe Maoneau- Peren District, 2nd: Rebecca- Kiphire district
100 metre race (Boys) - 1st: Khaidem Elbert- Dimapur district, 2nd: Tiamongba- Mokokchung District
100 metre race (Girls) - 1st: Mehrin Beck- Dimapur district, 2nd: Mhachoni Kithan- Wokha district
