3rd Love All Badminton Tournament held

Dimapur: The third Love All Badminton Tournament organised by the Humane Touch began on January 28 at 6:00 pm at Viola Colony, Dimapur and concluded on January 29. The tournament had two categories-senior boys’ doubles and junior boys single.

The senior Men’s Doubles champions were Sanen and Achi from Signal Angami Colony while Along from signal colony  was crowned the Junior Men’s Singles champion. Informing this in a press release, chairman of Humane Touch, Saku Longkumer stated that the two day event was graced by Congress MLA from 2 Dimapur-II A/C SI Jamir as the chief guest on the opening night while on the second night, Dr Benjong, Mission Director (Horticulture), Nagaland graced the tournament as special invitee. 

The release stated that MLA SI Jamir while speaking on the opening night reminded the audience how God had gifted the Nagas with talent in games and sports.

He gave the instance of how a Naga youth led the first Indian team in football to the Olympics in 1948. He also expressed concern over how the ‘bad Naga political situation’ kept a generation of Nagas from exploring and building their talent in sports. He however expressed deep faith that the youth of today will rise high in the field.

The chief guest also drew the attention of the audience to the fact that Nagas have similar physical features with the South East Asian countries from where the best badminton players hail from and that therefore the Nagas have a great possibility of excelling in the sport even at the international level, the release stated. 

The release also stated that the chairman of Humane Touch, earlier in his welcome speech, expressed gratitude to the public for supporting the event through their presence. He asserted that in present times, progress and advancement of any country is measured through sport persons and not through weaponry. The chairman of the Viola Colony, Kikum, in his exhortation on the first night, asserted that the audience would be watching the players and therefore urged that they should play with great sportsmanship spirit. He also urged the losers not to be discouraged but prepare themselves to win in the next edition of the Love All Badminton Tournament to be organised by Humane Touch next year.

On the second night, the special invitee, Dr Benjong praised the Humane Touch saying that they have come with a message for social harmony and service to the people in these bad times when there is so much strife in the society He also commended the cooperation of people of the colony, for support shown to the organizing team as well as the player.  The release further informed that special songs by 2008 Naga Idol contestant, Ardo and 2008 Naga Idol Winner, Toshinaro presented special songs on the first and second nights respectively.