181 Naga sportspersons awarded

KOHIMA: Sportspersons of Nagaland received cash awards on Friday for their meritorious performance in various tournaments at national and international levels.
Giving away the cash awards at IG Stadium in Kohima on Friday, Nagaland youth resources & sports (YRS) secretary Sachopra Vero congratulated the achievers and encouraged the sportspersons to continue to bring laurels to the state.
He said the number of medal winners in Nagaland is growing every year and it shows that the state is improving in the field of sports as well. He mentioned that although cash awards are to be given to the senior category only, as an encouragement for youth, the government has decided to include the junior medal winners, too, for the cash awards.
He asked the sportspersons to improve their standards and have the determination to compete with others. The award ceremony was sponsored by the department of youth resources & sports. Director YRS Kelei Zeliang chaired the programme.
Nagaland is expected to send about 160 sportspersons for the 27th edition of North East Games scheduled to be held in from April 8 to 11. More than 2000 players and officials from seven NE states would compete in the five-day event in 10 different disciplines.
The players and officials will compete in athletics, boxing, judo, weightlifting, football, badminton, wushu, table tennis, hockey and taekwondo.