Namsai, Oct 4: The 7th Edition of the State Level Hangpan Dada Memorial Trophy for Football and Volleyball (U-16 Boys & Girls) officially commenced today at General Ground, Namsai. The event was graced by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein as the Chief Guest, alongside Biyuram Wahge, Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Water Resources as guest of Honour. 
The opening ceremony was also graced by Kento Jini, Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs; among a host of dignitaries which also included Chasen Dada, the wife of late Hangpan Dada.
With approximately 1,500 participants representing 24 districts, the event drew a vibrant crowd of sports enthusiasts to the General Ground. In his address, Mein urged the youth to turn away from drugs and embrace sports as a means of personal and societal improvement. He highlighted the growing prominence of football in Namsai and assured that the government would implement initiatives, including the installation of Astro turf, in collaboration with the Department of Sports and the Arunachal Football Association.
Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs, Kento Jini, encouraged participants to engage in both team and individual sports. He also discussed the development of the Arunachal Youth Policy, which focuses on education, sports, and career opportunities for young people, including provisions for free education for IIT qualifiers. He emphasized that the Hangpan Dada Trophy serves not only as a platform for sports participation but also as an opportunity for participants to experience the diverse culture of Arunachal Pradesh, with each edition hosted in different districts.
The colorful opening ceremony featured a Khamti cultural dance, followed by the inaugural boys' football match, where the host team, Namsai faced Kurung Kumey but due to the low visibility of the light, the match was abandoned by technical committee.
The Hangpan Dada Memorial Trophy continues to foster sportsmanship and unity among the youth of Arunachal Pradesh. The event will continue until October 13 next.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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