Port Blair, March 08: The Lt Governor, Lt Gen A K Singh (Retd) on 6th March felicitated sportspersons from the Islands, who have won medals in the 35th National Games held at Kerala from 31st Jan to 14th Feb-2015. The A&N Islands contingent bagged 13 medals which included 6 Gold, 4 Silver and 3 Bronze. The Islands team participated in three disciplines i.e. Kayaking & Canoeing, Rowing and Cycling events and secured 17th position in the overall medal tally.
In his brief address on the occasion, the Lt Governor congratulated the medal winners for their remarkable achievements by bagging 13 medals and securing 17th position in the medal tally. He noted with appreciation that all the medal winners were women and lauded them for bringing laurels to the Islands and making the islanders proud. Turning to sports in the Islands, he said in the last six months, while sports in the Islands have done well after the revamp of the Sports Department, there is more required to be done in sports so that we can bring a golden era of sports in the Islands. He assured all possible support for the promotion of sports in the Islands, for which he observed that the Sports Department and all sports associations should work hand in hand to achieve our sports potential. He also asked the Chief Secretary and Sport Department to draw a policy to encourage sportspersons who have done exceptionally well by way of providing jobs. He also directed the Secretary (Sports) that medal winner sportspersons should be allowed to travel by air while participating for sports events in mainland.
In his address, the Member of Parliament, Shri B. P. Ray congratulated the sports contingent of the islands for their outstanding performance. He said that the sportspersons have made the Islands proud by their performance and added that A&N Olympic Association along with the Sports Department will work for the promotion and betterment of sports in the Islands.
Earlier, welcoming the chief guest and others, the Secretary (Sports), Shri Devender Singh informed that about that 40 member contingent from the Islands participated in the national games and won 13 medals.
