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Cong using Games for self-promotion
By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Feb 10 The ruling Congress seems to have gone overboard in turning
the National Games into a publicity gimmick for political purposes. So much so
that the exercise has left a bad taste in the mouth of the common people,
especially the sports-lovers. With posters of Congress leaders right from
local MLAs to the Chief Minister to Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi flooding
the roads, highways and Games venues of the city and its outskirts, one is
tempted to feel that some kind of big political event is going on, and not the
National Games. Pictures of leaders apart, Congress party flags have sprouted
on the roads leading to the sports venues.
While no one is denying the Congress government in the State the credit for
smooth holding of the Games, the first-ever in Asom, in the face of stiff
challenges, this mindless obsession with political publicity has harmed the
spirit of the Games, as sports and games are held to be above the narrow
confines of politics.
Amidst the craze for publicity, what takes the cake is a huge poster of Dispur
MLA Akan Bora, placed right at the entrance of the Veterinary College
playground at Khanapara, the venue of the equestrian events. People feel that
such unabashed propaganda has relegated the spirit of the Games to the
background and rendered the Games a personal affair of the Congress, with
politics occupying the centre-stage.
Sports and politics do not make a heady cocktail. It is downright ridiculous
to have such a big picture of the local MLA at the venue of a National Games
event. Such absurd publicity blitzkrieg is in stark contrast with the spirit of
the Games, and it would only make the ruling Congress a laughing stock before
all, especially the players and officials coming from outside the State, a
local resident said, adding that the dignity of the Games had suffered due to
such misdemeanour.
As one takes the roads to the venues, one is greeted by party flags and posters
of Congress leaders of all rank and file. They are there on both sides of the
roads as well as along the road dividers. Even the National Highway-37, which
leads to a couple of major Games venues, is not free from the repugnant
political air.
It is apparent that this publicity stunt has not gone down well with the city
residents. Such brazen indulgence in self-promotion for political gains going
on along with the countrys biggest sporting extravaganza is totally uncalled
for, and it only serves to lower the image of the State Government, the
Congress leaders in particular. The National Games is a sacred occasion, and
everybody should honour that sanctity, another citizen remarked, adding that
the State Government had left a bad precedent by its thoughtless publicity
gimmicks.
The undue politicization of the Games has found a place in the guidebook that
was released a few days back. The guidebook has no mention of the highest
organizing committee of the Games, while those compiling it went out their way
to accommodate a number of irrelevant committees and sub-committees besides the
governing body of the State Secretariat with most office-bearers being
politicians and bureaucrats. Ironically, the name of the Assam Olympic
Association is conspicuous by its absence in the book.
Asom stun Punjab 5-3 in hockey
By Our Sports Reporter
GUWAHATI, Feb 10 It was a pleasant surprise at the Maulana Md Tayabulla
Hockey Stadium at Bhetapara today as Asom caused a major upset in mens hockey
defeating the star-studded and defending champions Punjab 5-3. Chinglensana
Singh (32nd min), Brojen Singh (55th min), Sameer Dad (57th, 63rd min) and
Sanjeev Singh were the scorers for the hosts, while Gagandeep Singh (10th, 61st
min) and Satwinder Singh were the goal getters for the Punjab outfit.
Asom has all along being at the receiving end in all national-level
championships but today the boots were on the other foot. By hooking in several
internationals like Sameer Dad, Chinglensana Singh, Jagdish Singh, Kulbhushan
Vashist, Sanjeev Singh, Brojen Singh, Rajnish Mishra, Asom had been a
dominating side from the very beginning.
A jubilant Assam Hockey Association secretary Tapan Das later said that if the
State boys can continue the same form then there will be every possibility of
reaching the final. He praised Sameer Dad and Chinglensana for todays hard
fought victory, which could be a landmark for the State hockey.
Sanjib bags 1st medal for Asom; cyclists: 2 bronze
By Our Sports Reporter
GUWAHATI, Feb 10 Sanjib Boro became the first individual athlete to win a
medal for Asom at the 33rd National Games claiming a bronze medal in the 66kg
freestyle wrestling at the Tarun Ram Phookan Indoor Stadium at the RG Baruah
Sports Complex here today. The State grappler went down to HS Patil of Services
in the semifinal and confirmed a bronze medal. Expressing his satisfaction over
his medal-winning show, Sanjib said that he was expecting a position and was
happy to give the State a medal.
The State cycling teams also won two bronze medals in the 1500m-team event at
Tepesia today. In the mens team time trial event, Punjab took the gold while
Andhra Pradesh came second to bag the silver medal.
The Manipuri womens team clinched the gold pushing Punjab for the silver medal.
The Asom mens team members were Bikram Singh, Amit Sabrawal, Amiron Singh and
Jayanta Singh while the womens team comprised Himajyoti Gogoi, Bina Kumari,
Sunita and Ginita.
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