About 65 km north of State’s capital city of Guwahati is the greater Rangamati area under Mangaldai Legislative Assembly in Darrang district. Braving a sunny bright afternoon on November 10, hundreds of people, mostly students and youths of the greater area, came to the Rangamati Public High School Playground to witness a ward-level football match under the Rangamati Gaon Panchayat (GP). The excitement was visible. And why not? After all, the first phase of the ambitious initiative of the Assam Government called Khel Maharan was still in progress.
“Since November 1, i.e. the beginning of Khel Maharan, we have seen a festive atmosphere in the area. Five sporting disciplines for those who have registered on Khel Maharan’s online portal is something unique to us. In the last nine days, we have seen a tremendous enthusiasm. Even participants, mostly youths, from the riverine areas, which is just two km from here, are also participating,” said Ajit Deka, headmaster of Rangamati Public High School and chairman of Rangamati Khel Maharan committee.
When this reporter arrived at the playground, the half time score of the Under– 19 (boys) football match between Ward No. 1 and Ward No. 2 under Rangamati GP, was 1-1. Organisers said they have identified two players with noticeable skill sets in the three matches played among various wards under the Rangamati GP. This spotting of talent is one of the objectives of Khel Maharan.
Suhena Nargis (17), a Class X student of Paschim Rangamati Higher Secondary School in Darrang, won 100m and 200m sprints while managing to show her prowess in football and volleyball, much to the surprise of many who had not seen her in action until then.
“We have limited opportunities. Khel Maharan has given us a chance to prove our skill and talent,” Nargis told this reporter. She will now represent her GP in football at the Mangaldai Assembly Constituency level tournament.
“Over 1.64 lakh sportsmen participated on the first day. There were reports that competitors had to wait for hours to join their respective events. Word of mouth account have already started pouring in from across the State about talents emerging. We have high hopes,” Pradip Timung, Director of Sports and Youth Welfare told this reporter.
Not only students and youths, even men and women over 40 are participating with gusto. At Mangaldai town in Darrang district, Rani Saharia (45), a mother of two, competed in Kabaddi.
“It is amazing to see boys and girls gather at the playground from 9am to 5pm to participate in different sporting events. Being a sports lover, I strongly believe in the positive outcome of this initiative. It will motivate our youths,” Saharia told this newsletter.
Mangaldai Government Boys High School Playground witnessed an impressive turnout during the first phase of Khel Maharan from November 1 to 18. On November 10, the needle of the clock was well past 5 pm but that failed to stop two Above-19 girls’ teams from giving up on their Kabaddi match.
“In our district, we have 75 GP and three Urban Local Bodies. We are witnessing a massive participation. It has triggered enthusiasm among the young generation towards sports. In our district, we have even seen the elderly organise training for the younger ones in their respective villages. Some among these youths are nurturing an ambition of playing for the country. It is helping us in identifying a sporting talent pool for the State,” Bandita Gogoi, District Sports Officer, Darrang told this reporter.
In Morigaon district, too, Khel Maharan has triggered interest among the youths. Morigaon District Sports Officer Chandan Talukdar said that in all the 86 GPs of the district, these events witnessed a very good response.
“In rural areas, youths are eager to compete. Online registrations are more from rural areas than the urban ones. Led by our District Commissioner, we have been visiting all major playgrounds since November 1. The enthusiasm is inescapable,” said Talukdar while adding that in the first 11 days of the sporting extravaganza in the district, they have been able to spot some bright prospects.
At the Khirod Barua Memorial stadium in Morigaon town, Amit Boro (16), a high school student, clocked 12.15 seconds to run his 100m. “Amit had no formal training. But his skills impressed everyone present. We are already looking at him as a rare talent,” Talukdar told this newsletter. To spot talents like Amit was one of the key objectives of Khel Maharan, something to which even Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to in his letter to the Assam Chief Minister (Pl see box).
