Nagaland capital Kohima will host the South Asian Cross Country Championship in January 2022, officials said.
Associate vice president at Athletic Federation of India (AFI) and president, Nagaland Athletics Association, Abu Metha during a press conference held at RCEMPA, Jotsoma on October 15 said that Kohima will host the championship in 2022.
With India set to host the South Asian Cross Country Championship (SACCC) 2022, Metha informed that the AFI has allotted Nagaland to host the SACCC 2022, which he said will be the biggest international event hosted in the state till date. The event will bring athletes, officials and delegates from entire South Asian countries to participate at the championship in Nagaland.
Metha informed that the bid to host the championship was made to the AFI with the support of chief minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio. He thanked the CM for giving the sports fraternity, Nagaland Athletics Association and Nagaland Athletics Federation the mandate to go ahead with the bid, and also for assuring the state government’s full support. He further appealed to the entire sports fraternity and all sections of people to come forward and support the event.
While stating that the SACCC will help propel the state to international sports map, Metha informed that the South Asian Athletics Federation will have its annual general meeting in Kohima during the championship, and the 56th National Cross Country Championship will be clubbed with the SACCC 2022.
With the AFI aware of the enormous amount of talent and potential amongst Northeast youth to do well not just at national level but at international level, Metha said that the AFI is keen to promote athletics in Northeast region. Highlighting the importance of athletics in the foundation of many sports discipline, he stated that without development of athletics, track and field, and sports as a whole cannot develop.
