Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, NOV 6 (NPN): All Nagaland Private Schools’ Association (ANPSA) Dimapur unit, in collaboration with Department of Youth Resources and Sports, marked 25th ANPSA Dimapur Sports Meet 2026, on Friday, here at Greenwood School, Dimapur, bringing together 24 schools from across Dimapur, for a two-day event.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, vice president of the Athletics Federation of India and Secretary General of Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA), Abu Metha, congratulated ANPSA Dimapur for sustaining the sporting initiative for 25 years and paid tribute to the pioneers who laid its foundation.
Describing the milestone as the culmination of a generation of effort, Metha acknowledged challenges faced by the association’s founding members and appreciated the institutions and families whose contributions had helped the sports meet reach its silver jubilee.
Emphasising the unifying power of sports, he said every participant is an ambassador of unity, adding that sports transcended language, background and geographical boundaries. He also encouraged young athletes to view the meet as a stepping stone towards representing their district, state, and country, expressing hope that future state, national, Olympic, and world champions could emerge from among the participants.
Metha further highlighted the role of sports in building character, discipline, teamwork, and perseverance, stating that sports was an education in itself and an integral part of a child’s overall development.
Urging parents, teachers and educational institutions not to allow academic pressure and examinations to overshadow children’s participation in sports, he said education should be holistic, encompassing academics, sports, music, art, and other areas of talent.
He also stressed that every child possessed unique abilities, and that, schools must recognise and nurture talents beyond academics, while also calling for sporting achievements to receive equal recognition and encouragement, so that students could be motivated to pursue their interests and develop their potential.
Metha later maintained that schools should serve as foundation for India’s sporting development, urging greater investment in sports at grassroots level. He asserted that sports should not be treated merely as an extracurricular activity but as a central component of the education system.
He also encouraged ANPSA to develop follow-up programmes to identify promising athletes and provide them with structured training and opportunities to progress to higher levels of competition.
Sharing his own experience as a former sportsperson, he recalled participating in school march-past events and said many of his lasting friendships had been formed through sports.
He thereby urged the young athletes to remain committed, work hard and strive for excellence, expressing hope that Nagaland would continue to rise through the contributions of institutions such as ANPSA.
Meanwhile, addressing the gathering as the guest of honour, Commandant, Central Training Institute for Home Guards, Civil Defence and SDRF, Avinuo, maintained that she not only see energetic and enthusiastic students, but the future of the society, who would one day lead the institutions, build communities, and shape society.
She added that ANPSA, for the past 25 years, had brought schools together, encouraged healthy competition, and provided students with the opportunity to showcase their talents, test abilities, and make friendships beyond their own schools.
She maintained that sports were not all about winning, adding that it teaches one to win, and at the same time, it also teaches us to accept our loss, and thereby urged the students to carry those qualities beyond the field.
Also addressing the gathering as the special guest, Commanding Officer, 1st Girls Nagaland Battalion NCC, Colonel Mandeep Virdi, urged participating students to treat the sports field as a training ground for life, leadership, and character development.
She noted that when one enters into a sports field, one not only enter as a sports player, but was preparing oneself to take on life challenges.
She also encouraged students to celebrate the event, compete with respect towards their opponent, and excel by empowering their potential to continue to grow.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by Protima Tsanglao and Peshing Khiamniungan, invocation was offered by proprietor, Bethesda Hr. Sec. School, Rev Moses Murry and welcome address delivered by president, ANPSA Dimapur, Asito Peseyie.