Shillong: The gala launch of the Assam Rifles CAPF Under-19 Football Talent Hunt Tournament for Meghalaya was held on Thursday at the Assam Rifles Sports Complex, Laitkor, Shillong.
Assam Rifles is organising the state-level tournaments in Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland. The nationwide competition, dubbed ‘Oorja’, is an initiative of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to promote football in the entire country ahead of the FIFA Under-17 Football World Cup, which will be hosted by India for the first time later this year.
The first stage of the tournament will kick off on May 1 and will conclude on May 10. Assam Rifles, and other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), will organise the tournament across the country with the assistance of the All India Police Sports Control Board (AIPSCB). The tournament will be on a massive scale – more than 12,500 boys and girls will take part and there will be more than 1,200 matches over the three-phase competition that will last a total of three months and carries prize money of Rs 20 lakh. The tournament will culminate in the final on July 25.
The chief guest on the occasion was Director General of Assam Rifles, Lt Gen Shokin Chauhan AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM. Brand ambassadors for the Meghalaya round, Wansuk Myrthong and Dolyne Kharbhih, the only women of the state to climb Mt Everest, lit the inaugural lamp along with Assam Rifles Wives Welfare Association president Daphne Chauhan. Members of Meghalaya’s most successful football club, Shillong Lajong FC, were present at the Shillong launch in a show of support to the youth tournament, as well as noted marathoner Binning Lyngkhoi and senior sports officials of Meghalaya.
Close to 400 boys and girls representing 16 clubs from Meghalaya will vie for the state trophy, which has been named in honour of Shlur Nongbri, the first native from the state to make it to the Indian national football team. His daughter, M Syiemlieh unveiled the stunning trophy to the assembled audience. The winners will also take home a prize purse of Rs 75,000 with Rs 50,000 for the runners-up.
Speaking on the occasion, Lt Gen Chauhan welcomed the distinguished guests and said, “Assam Rifles is organising this tournament in four of the states of our beautiful North East on behalf of the Ministry of Home Affairs in phase one to identify talent and further popularise the sport in the North East. With the encouragement, cooperation and support of the general public and the authorities, I am hopeful that Assam Rifles will host the tournament successfully and at the end of phase one we will also pick the best players to represent our beautiful state of Meghalaya.”
Earlier this month the logo as mascot, Gabru, was unveiled before CAPF personnel, former and current sportspersons in New Delhi by Honourable Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The Honourable Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju and Honourable Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel were also present for the launch. Former Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia, five-time world boxing champion MC Mary Kom, Olympic double medallist Sushil Singh, former Indian footballer IM Vijayan and former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev, who is also the brand ambassador for the tournament, were also present.
Oorja means energy in Hindi and is thus a highly appropriate name for the tournament as it comes with the intent to explore the endless energy of the nation’s youth through the popular sport of football.
The cub mascot Gabru epitomises all that adolescents stand for – unbridled energy, zest for life, youthful exuberance and a desire to do good with an ambition to succeed. The tournament’s anthem has been written by noted Indian singer Sukhwinder Singh in his signature style, which is full of energy, happiness and motivation.
The motto of the tournament comes from a quote by Swami Vivekananda, “Arise, awake and stop not until the goal is reached.”
