Khandu congratulated Mane for her stupendous feat and affirmed that the entire state was proud of her. He encouraged her to keep practicing and bring more laurels for herself and the state.
Itanagar
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu today felicitated young athlete Joti Mane today, who recently became the first from Arunachal Pradesh to win a gold medal in any national athletics championship.
Khandu congratulated Mane for her stupendous feat and affirmed that the entire state was proud of her. He encouraged her to keep practicing and bring more laurels for herself and the state.
“Set your goals high and work from the ground. Every citizen of Arunachal Pradesh is behind you,” he said.
The athlete won the 5000-mtr race in the girls’ U-20 category in the 31st East Zone Junior Athletics Championship, held in the capital city of Jharkhand, Ranchi, on 14 and 15 September last.
When informed that she clocked 19.45 minutes to win the Gold, Khandu lauded the in-born talent in her and reiterated that raw talents are abundant in youths, particularly of the remote districts of the state. Mane hails from remote Monigong in the newly created district of Shi-Yomi.
The young athlete admitted that there are many talented athletes in her village, who, now after witnessing her success, were eager to take to track provided basic facilities are made available.
Expressing gratitude to the Chief minister, Mane attributed her success to her coach, M K Pegu because of whom she is availing the training facilities at the Sangey Lhaden Sports Academy here while pursuing her BA degree (1st Semester) at the Dera Natung Government College, Itanagar.
Pegu informed that Mane was spotted by a talent hunting organization when she was studying at Aalo but couldn’t attend the final selection camp at Guwahati due to her class 12 examinations.
“After her exams, I pursued with the DNGC authorities and got her admitted under sports quota so that she could train at the sports academy,” Pegu, who is retiring next year, said.
When asked about the training facilities at the academy, Mane said that facilities are in place but not up to level.
“Here we train on different ground but have to run on a different surface in competitions. It would be helpful for our athletes if similar tracks are prepared here,” she said.
She further profusely thanked the Chief Minister for felicitating her and said that the meeting was a dream come true for her.
Mane promised the CM that she will give her best in the ensuing 35th National Junior Athletics Championship, 2019, scheduled from 1st to 2nd November next in Andhra Pradesh.
Sports & Youth Affairs Secretary, Ameya Abhayankar, also the Secretary to CM, who visited the sports academy this morning, gave details of the facilities and infrastructure coming up there to the CM.
He assured that the department will prepare a road map for the academy while putting in place a mechanism to track the development and training of sportspersons in the academy.
Aling Pingam, President of the Shi-Yomi District Olympic Association, also accompanied Mane.
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