Assam to have sports school after its first Arjuna awardee Bhogeswar Baruah

Guwahati: Assam will have a sports school after the name of the state’s first Arjuna Award-winning athlete Bhogeswar Baruah. On Monday, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone of Bhogeswar Baruah State Sports School at Sarusajai Sports Complex in Guwahati. The school which is the first of its kind in the state will be built at a sprawling 20 bigha of land where theoretical and practical coaching will be provided at six prescribed disciplines - athletics, boxing, football, weightlifting, archery and taekwondo. Chief Minister Sonowal said that sport is a tool through which peace can be brought in society. Considering the immense potential of sports, Sonowal announced that the government would formulate a policy to integrate it with culture and education so that sportspersons pursuing training are not deprived of academic and moral values. Stating that sport is the way to become energetic and fit, Sonowal urged upon the budding sporting talents to be disciplined, dedicated and hard working. He also said that to develop quality in the sporting ambience in the state, Assam Government has decided to set up Sports University at Chabua in Dibrugarh district, Sports College in Kokrajhar and Sports School in Guwahati so that the vast sporting talents of the state could be properly nurtured. Bhogeswar Baruah who was present during the occasion said that he was happy to see a sports institute after his name.

“Definitely, it’s a happy feeling for me. I hope the school will help in nurturing a host of young talents who will be able to represent the country in the long run,” Baruah said. Bhogeswar Baruah won a gold medal in 800 metres in the 1966 Bangkok Asian Games. After that, he went on to become the first person from the region to be awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award. His birthday is celebrated as Abhiruchi Sports Day on September 3 every year across Assam. On Monday, Chief Minister Sonowal also distributed Chief Minister’s Sports Award, 2019 to sixteen promising sportspersons of the state who have earned the distinction in their sporting disciplines. The award carries cash worth INR 1.5 Lakh and a citation. He also felicitated eleven sportspersons of the state who have won medals in ‘Khelo India Youth Games’. Chief Minister Sonowal also handed over Best Sports organizer award to Jayanta Bodo of Assam Archery Association. Coinciding the programme, Sonowal also handed over a cheque of INR Rs. 3 Lakh from Assam Sports Development Fund to the family members of mountaineer Tarun Saikia for his better treatment. The Bridge had carried a story of Tarun Saikia’s illness. Tarun Saikia is the first from Assam to climb the Mount Everest. Saikia earned the feat in 2013.