IMPHAL, Aug 1 - Manipur sports department has identified six sports disciplines to train talented youths in order to produce world class sports persons for the international competitions.
Disclosing this to media here on Monday, the Commissioner (Sports) H Deleep Singh said that the government has identified archery, judo, boxing, weightlifting, wrestling and taekwondo.
Deleep Singh said 12 students (6 boys and 6 girls) in each 5 sports discipline are enrolled each year considering their physical structure, aptitude and performance of players of the region after the establishment of National Sports Academy which have annual intake capacity of 72 students per year since last seven years.
He however claimed that the number of playgrounds are increased in the hill areas. �The success of the sports movement in our State is largely due to the strong sports movement and support from the localities and the government�, he added.
Manipur so far has produced as many as 17 Olympians with hockey goal keeper P Nilkamal being the first. This time, six sportspersons�weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, Laishram Bombayla Devi (women�s archery), Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam and Anuradha Thokchom (women�s hockey), Khadangbam Kothajit and Chinglensana Kangujam (men�s field hockey) representing the country in Rio Olympics.
