The Assam Olympic Association (AOA) celebrated the outstanding achievements of star athletes from the state at a grand ceremony held on Thursday. The event was graced by Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, and the President of AOA, who presented the athletes with prestigious honors, including a Gamusa (a traditional Assamese cloth), a Japi (a traditional Assamese hat), a memento, and a cheque of Rs 50,000 each.
Among the athletes honored were Lovlina Borgohain, who recently made history by winning the IBA (International Boxing Association) World Boxing Championship, Nayanmoni Saikia, who won the Gold at the Commonwealth Games, and Hemanta Kalita, Secretary General of Boxing Federation of India. These athletes have brought immense pride to Assam and have become an inspiration to the entire sports fraternity in the state.
In his address, Sonowal praised the athletes for their impressive performance and expressed his admiration for their efforts. He congratulated them for their remarkable achievements and highlighted how they have not only made Assam proud but also given hope to the sports community for a brighter future. Sonowal also acknowledged the revolutionary changes in sports in India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, mentioning the policy changes implemented by Modi that have created a conducive environment for athletes to excel on the global stage and evolve national-level competitions.
Sonowal further emphasized the immense potential of Northeast India in sports and how it has been recognized by Modi. He highlighted the importance of sports in building a healthy nation and reiterated the commitment of the government to support athletes and create an environment conducive to better performance under Modi’s leadership.
Lovlina Borgohain, the IBA World boxing champion and Olympic medalist, expressed her gratitude to AOA for the honor bestowed upon her and how it motivates her to keep striving for excellence. She also expressed hope that the recognition of her feat would further raise awareness about sports as a successful career option, inspiring more youngsters to take up sports seriously. Borgohain also acknowledged Sonowal for his support in her journey as a sportsperson and announced the start of a foundation to educate upcoming sportspersons about various issues or concerns that one faces while competing at the top level.
The felicitation ceremony also recognized other accomplished athletes and a coach for their outstanding contributions in their respective fields of sport. Boxing aces Kalpana Choudhury, Bhagyawati Kachari, Pwilao Basumatary, and Ankushita Boro, as well as Triple Lawn Bowls champions Mridul Borgohain and Putul Sonowal, were among the athletes honored by AOA. Boxing coach Trideep Borah was also felicitated for his invaluable contribution to the sport.
The event was attended by several other dignitaries, including Bhubaneswar Kalita, Member of Parliament from Rajya Sabha (Assam), and representatives from various sports bodies in the state. The felicitation ceremony not only recognized the achievements of these star athletes but also highlighted the commitment of the government and sports bodies in Assam to promote sports and support athletes in their pursuit of excellence. With the recognition and encouragement from AOA and other organizations, these athletes are sure to continue making Assam and India proud in the international arena.
