Shillong, April 8: “Every champion was once a beginner. Whether you win or lose today, what truly matters is that you participate with passion, integrity, and determination. Start today, give your best, and let your journey inspire the future.” This was the message delivered by John F. Kharshiing, Working President of the Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA), to students of Loreto Convent School, last week.
He was speaking at the Annual Sports Day of the school at the SAI complex in NEHU’s Shillong campus on April 4, where he officially also handed over a copy of the Meghalaya Sports Policy 2019 to the Principal of Loreto Convent, Sister Mable P. Rudum. The gesture was aimed at encouraging awareness and adoption of the state’s sports framework among educational institutions.
Kharshiing highlighted that the Meghalaya Sports Policy 2019, notified by the state government, provides a structured and inclusive framework for promoting sports at all levels. He noted that, despite challenges, the policy has led to several key achievements and initiatives across the state.
Kharshiing urged school authorities to maintain and to share records of athletes’ timings and distances during sports events with MDOS, as data and benchmarks are vital for tracking talent and progress. He stressed that every performance counts and could be the beginning of an athlete’s journey to greatness.
Encouraging the students to stay committed, resilient and have self-belief, he said, “Sports is more than medals… It is about discipline, perseverance, and teamwork.”
Kharshiing also outlined milestones achieved under the sports policy, including amendments to the Meghalaya Service Rules to provide enhanced incentives for athletes employed in government services, the revival of the Meghalaya Games after a 16-year hiatus with successful editions held in Shillong (2020 and 2022), Tura (2024), and Jowai (2025), and the hosting of the 2nd North East Olympic Games in Shillong in November 2022. He also highlighted the introduction of cash awards and one-year scholarships for medal winners at both state and national levels.
Further, he talked about the third edition of the Talent Identification Drive (TID-3), under which testing of 10,000 children across 12 districts is almost completed. He said the top 200 ranked children in the 2nd edition of Elite training are undergoing a year-long, fitness training and monitoring under the mentorship of Olympians, with the top-tier athletes in the Super Elite program showing notable progress.
Additionally, he expressed gratitude to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and Sports Minister Shakliar Warjri for their continued support in developing the sports ecosystem in the state. He specifically credited their leadership in bringing the 39th National Games 2027 to Meghalaya, which will make it the third Northeastern state—after Manipur (1999) and Assam (2007)—to host the prestigious event.
Describing the upcoming National Games as a transformative moment for Meghalaya, Kharshiing said it would inspire future generations and significantly strengthen the state’s sports infrastructure and opportunities.
Read: Meghalaya Cricket Association awarded recognised for playing in Elite Group of BCCI
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