Shillong: The Assam Rifles CAPF Under-19 Football Talent Hunt Tournament for Meghalaya got off to a scintillating start at the Assam Rifles Sports Complex, Laitkor, on Thursday.
Assam Rifles is organising the state-level tournaments in Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland. The nationwide competition, dubbed ‘Oorja’, is an initiative of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to promote football in the entire country ahead of the FIFA Under-17 Football World Cup, which will be hosted by India for the first time later this year.
The first stage of the tournament will kick off on May 1 and will conclude on May 10. Assam Rifles, and other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), will organise the tournament across the country with the assistance of the All India Police Sports Control Board (AIPSCB). The tournament will be on a massive scale – more than 12,500 boys and girls will take part and there will be more than 1,200 matches over the three-phase competition that will last a total of three months and carries prize money of Rs 20 lakh. The tournament will culminate in the final on July 25.
Brand ambassadors for the Meghalaya round, Wansuk Myrthong and Dolyne Kharbhih, the two women of the State to have scaled Mt. Everest, lit the inaugural lamp along with Assam Rifles Wives Welfare Association president Daphne Chauhan. Members of Shillong Lajong FC, noted marathoner Binning Lyngkhoi and senior sports officials of Meghalaya attended the function.
Close to 400 boys and girls representing 16 clubs from Meghalaya will vie for the state trophy, which has been named in honour of Shlur Nongbri, the first native from the state to make it to the Indian national football team.
His daughter, M Syiemlieh unveiled the stunning trophy to the assembled audience.
