SHILLONG, March 10: Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Banteidor Lyngdoh was left stumped for close to a minute in the Assembly when first-time MLA from Mawphlang and former footballer, Eugeneson Lyngdoh raised a query on sports infrastructure in the state.
Reacting to a query from the legislator on whether the infrastructure being constructed for the 39th National Games, will be utilised by the state’s sports associations after the event, the minister spent over a minute rummaging through a pile of papers in an attempt to find a suitable response.
When the minister finally managed to trace the right piece of paper, he said since the construction is still under way the department has “yet to decide” on the matter.
The minister, prone to making errors, also created a small commotion in the House when AITC MLA Zenith Sangma sought a clarification on whether the state will be hosting the National Games or not.
Zenith was the Sports Minister when Meghalaya had bagged the rights to host the 39th edition of the National Games.
The members burst into a peal of laughter when the minister replied that the Games will be held once everything is ready.
“The National Games won’t go anywhere from our state. If not this year, maybe next year or maybe the coming year but the state will definitely host the National Games,” he said.
Earlier, the Mawphlang MLA also inquired about the steps taken by the department to prepare the athletes and hire qualified coaches for the Games, to which the minister replied that the department has had several meetings with the Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA) before coming up with a proposal for different sports association to prepare teams for the National Games.
Banteidor said that the Sports department is scrutinizing the proposals sent by different sports association for conduct of competition, selection of athletes and their training and hiring of coaches to train the elite athletes.