Port Blair, Aug.29:National Sports Day-2017 was celebrated in the Islands together with the rest of the country today, to mark the 112th birth anniversary of the Hockey Wizard, Major Dhyan Chand. As such, a valedictory function of the weeklong National Sports Day celebration was held in the auditorium of Tagore Government College of Education (TGCE) here today, in which the Chief Secretary, Mr. Anindo Mazumdar was the chief guest. He garlanded the portrait of Major Dhyan chand and paid tribute to the Hockey Wizard. Port Blair, Aug.29:National Sports Day-2017 was celebrated in the Islands together with the rest of the country today, to mark the 112th birth anniversary of the Hockey Wizard, Major Dhyan Chand. As such, a valedictory function of the weeklong National Sports Day celebration was held in the auditorium of Tagore Government College of Education (TGCE) here today, in which the Chief Secretary, Mr. Anindo Mazumdar was the chief guest. He garlanded the portrait of Major Dhyan chand and paid tribute to the Hockey Wizard.
Addressing the gathering of sportspersons on the occasion, the Chief Secretary said Major Dhyan Chand was an international legendary figure in Hockey, who epitomized the era of Hockey in India. During his period of playing Hockey, India could thrash all the best hockey teams of the world on many occasions, he said. National Sports Day is being celebrated every year to mark his birthday. In these Islands, the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs of the Administration organizes sport events every year to mark his birthday celebration, he said.
Referring to the level of sports in the Islands, the Chief Secretary said that the Islands’ sport persons are doing well at the national level competitions. The Nicobarese boys had on many occasions, won the Subroto Mukherji Football Cup while sport persons like Deborah Herald also shine in national and international level competitions. However, much more is needed to be done to bring back those glories to improve the standard of sports in the Islands. There is need to spot talents from different islands, nurture them in the right earnest by providing proper diet, coaching and conducive environment for them, he said stressing for synergy between defense and Islands’ sport persons in improving various sports and games in the Islands.
The chief guest also distributed prizes to the winners of the various sport events, organized as part of the celebration. Two veteran sport persons, Mr. Indresh Joshep (Cycling) and Mr. Jagdish Lall (Athletic) were also felicitated on the occasion.
In her welcome address, the Secretary (Sports & Youth Affairs), Ms. Tanvi Garg briefed the gathering about the significance of the day and highlighted the efforts of the Sports Department in bringing in, variety of sports for the Islands sport persons. She said that efforts are being made to improve the standard of sports in the Islands, for which the Sports Authority of India (SAI) had been requested to provide facilities and qualified coaches for the Islands sport persons. An MoU had been signed between SAI and the A & N Administration in this regard, she added. The students of Andaman College presented a welcome song while the students of TGCE presented folk dances of Nicobarese and Chota Nagpuri to the delight of the gathering.
