4th Edition Meghalaya Games drew to a close

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 6, 2022

The five day long 4th Edition of Meghalaya Games 2022 covering 19 disciplines in 13 venues with 3,000 participants concluded on Friday’s afternoon at SAI Indoor Training Hall, NEHU, Shillong.

Chief Secretary Rebecca V Suchiang drew the curtain of the Meghalaya Games.

Director of Sports and Youth Affairs WAM Booth, Meghalaya State Olympic Association Working President John F Kharshiing, General Secretary Finely Pariat, other MSOA senior members and representatives of sports associations and the stars of the event – the athletes were also present.

Over 700-plus medals were handed to winners in various individual and team events.

The Chief Secretary said that she “loved the enthusiasm” of the young athletes present at the indoor hall.

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“Each and every participant is a champion,” Suchiang said, “You are the vision of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and he wants to nurture sportspersons and how this starts is in our own homes. It is time we as parents encourage our children in sports. In India half of all elementary schools don’t have playgrounds. That’s why the Chief Minister is ensuring infrastructure is coming up across the state and you will all have facilities at your doorstep.”

Suchiang also handed over the prizes for the overall winners in the athletics events – these went to Shillong Sports Association (for East Khasi Hills) in the male category and Nongstoin District Sports Association (for West Khasi Hills) in the women’s. West Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi were the runners-up in men’s and women’s respectively.

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Earlier, Kharshiing reminded the audience that this is the biggest and most ambitious edition of the Meghalaya Games, which started with just nine disciplines in 2001 and 12 in 2004 and then was not held for 16 years – until 2020 – when the state government decided to revive the statewide event. The Games grew to 14 disciplines in 2020 and now 19, with many more sports associations wanting to be included next year, such as has been the success of the competition.

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The Working President also spoke positively about Meghalaya’s Sports Policy and the National Education Policy and their potential for the growth of sports and athletes in the state.

A gymnastic demonstration followed. Gymnastics was one of the new sports introduced to this edition of the Meghalaya Games. The seven girls wowed the assembly of other athletes, dignitaries, media and invited guests with their floor exercise routines.

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A letter of praise from the Indian Olympic Association President, Shri Narinder D Batra, was read out at the close, in which he praised the efforts of the MSOA, thanked the state government for pledging to support the event every year and said that this will help Meghalaya prepare to host the 39th National Games.

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The next year’s edition will take place in Tura while 2024 event will be held in Jowai, which will be a further boost the promotion of sport, help the athletes improve and grow and further foster cross-cultural understanding.