The first Elite (senior) Men’s National Boxing Championship has got off to a colourful start at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Sarusajai in Guwahati. Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, while inaugurating the championship, appreciated Boxing Federation of India (BFI) and Assam Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) for holding the mega sports event in the state and said that the championship would boost government’s effort to make Assam as the sports capital of the country.

The Assam chief minister also said that during 2017 several other mega sports events will be played in Assam. “The state government will host the Himalayan Sports Festival in 2017 where 11 states of the country and several Himalayan nations will take part. Assam is also an important venue of the Under 17 FIFA World Cup which will be played next year. These events will bolster Assam’s image as emerging sports destination of India”, the chief minister said.

Stating that India is a rising star in world sports, especially individual sports like boxing, the chief minister commented that boxers from the Northeast like Mary Kom, Sarita Devi and Shiva Thapa have made the nation proud by bringing laurels in international sports events.

“If talent is properly harnessed, Northeast can produce more acclaimed sportspersons who can lead the nation in the field of sports at world events”, Sonowal said.

Recalling his days as Union sports minister which helped him to understand the sports mechanism of the country and develop close bonding with top sportspersons, Sonowal said that successful sportspersons help in building the image of the country by showcasing their sportsmanship spirit and promoting social and cultural values.

Further Sonowal said that the elite boxing championship would immensely help the upcoming boxers of the state and motivate young generation to take up boxing as a career. The chief minister also advised the boxers participating in the championship to develop their skills and foster brotherhood through this event.

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