By IANS,
Agartala : A colourful march-past, dances and cultural functions with traditional costumes Wednesday marked the beginning of the Northeast Games at the Umakanta Stadium here.
In all 1,102 competitors, including 471 women contestants, from the eight northeastern states are participating in the 23rd Northeast Games.
In all, ten events would be conducted at eight venues during the four-day sporting extravaganza.
The events are football, weightlifting, boxing, hockey, table tennis, judo, gymnastics, badminton, swimming and athletics.
“The mega sports meet would attract talent of the northeast. Already sportspersons from the region are able to make a mark in the national and international sports arena,” Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said after declaring the meet open.
Tripura Sports Council in association with Sports Authority of India (SAI) has organised the meet. Renowned gymnast Dipa Karmakar administered the oath to the participants.
The Northeast Games is the biggest sporting extravaganza of the region being held annually by rotation in each of the eight states since 1986.
Sarkar said: “Northeast is not getting due priority in appropriate utilisation of human resources of the region.”
The Tripura chief minister requested the central government to give special attention for promoting sports, specially traditional sports of the northeast region.