State level Kho-Kho championship for u-17 Girl’s and Boy’s was organized by Kho-Kho association of Arunachal Pradesh was held at Outdoor Stadium, Pasighat, from 4th December to 12th December. Total 29 teams from 20 districts have participated in the event. VKV Tafrogam Girl’s Kho-Kho team consisting 12 players along with their coach Su. Rumi Khakhlari also participated in the championship representing Lohit District. The opening ceremony was on 4th December at 10.30 AM. The chief guest of the ceremony was Eng. Taba Tedir, honourable Education Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, who is also the president of Kho-Kho Association of Arunachal Pradesh. Encouraging the youths to make career out of sports, he said that meritorious kho-kho players would also be extended all facilities, like incentives, scholarship and job quota by the government as given to sportspersons from other disciplines. General Secretary of Kho-Kho Associatio of Arunachal Pradesh, Adv. Puto Bui spoke about the importance of games and sports. Likabali based 56 infantry division GOC Maj. General Ajay Verma declared the championship open, advised the players to play the sport in a friendly but competitive manner, maintaining the spirit of sportsmanship.
East Siang and Lohit clinched the men’s and women’s titles respectively in the state level Kho-Kho championship.
East Siang beat East Kameng by single point in the men’s final and VKV Tafrogam representing Lohit beat lower Subansiri by 13 points to clinch the title. The final was on 12th December, 2019.
The winning teams will represent the state at the National School Games under aegis of School Games Federation.
Attending the closing ceremony, Education Secretary Niharika Rai said that the enthusiasm shown by young players will go a long in promoting kho kho and other indigenous games and sports. She commended the efforts of the Kho-Kho Association of Arunachal Pradesh (KKAP) and its East Siang district unit for promotion of the traditional sport in the state.
The Education Secretary Niharika Rai encouraged the players to take up kho-Kho, informing that the sport is recognized by the state government and the Ministry of Sports and YouthAffairs.
Later, she gave away the prizes to winners and runners up.
East Siang DC Dr Kinny Singh also lauded the sportsman spirit displayed throughout the tournament by the participants from 21 districts. She assured district administration’s support in conducting such event in the future..
KKIP general secretary Puto Bui emphasized on the need for promotion of kho kho and other indigenous sports. He appealed to the state government to take initiative for revival and popularize indigenous sports
