KSU questions Meghalaya Basketball selection process

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 25, 2024

The Khasi Students Union (KSU) has opposed the decision of the state’s Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs to allegedly select seven out of twelve basketball players, who are from non-indigenous communities, to represent Meghalaya at the upcoming Basketball National School Games to be held at Haryana.

“Out of the list of 12 players, only five belongs to local indigenous communities while 7 are from non-Khasi and non-Garo communities. This total biasness on the part of the state government towards local Khasi players raises a big question on whether the state government is for the development and promotion of Khasis (Khynriam, Pnar, Bhoi, War, Maram & Lyngngam) and Garos or is it for promotion of non-locals,” chairman of the KSU sports cell Eric A. Nongkynrih said in a statement issued on Thursday.

“Therefore, we strongly condemn this attitude of the state government towards talented Khasi basketball players. The KSU would also like question on whether Meghalaya only want to win tournaments by bringing players from outside or does it really want to promote and develop local talented sportspersons to improve its performance in the different sport disciplines,” he said while lamenting that the recent decision of the government has to a great extent discouraged and deprived many talented basketball players from the state.

The KSU also urged the local players not to lose hope despite the step-motherly treatment by the state government. “We will find ways and means to provide better platforms for our local sportspersons and we will continue to act as watchdogs to ensure that their rights are safeguarded,” Nongkynrih added.