Kom, Milind joins “Run for North East”

SHILLONG, JAN 21: Shillong woke up to the enthusiasm of the “Run for North East” or the 5 km mini marathon flagged off by chief minister Mukul Sangma from the Fire Brigade ground on Thursday morning in the presence of a host of dignitaries and hundreds of people from across Meghalaya who had gathered to be part of the event as it marked the countdown for the 12^th South Asian Games to be co-hosted by the city.

There was certain buzz on the city roads as the “Run for North East” banners stared on onlookers which were put up all along the route of the marathon from Fire Brigade to Polo grounds as people thronged the venue from where the run was to kick start.

The opening ceremony of the Run organised as a prelude to the 12^th South Asian Games was attended by ace Indian boxers MC Mary Kom and L Sarita Devi, Bollywood star Milind Soman, Athletics Federation of India President A Sumariwalla, CEO South Asian Games (Shillong), RK Sharma, Joint CEO South Asian Games (Shillong) and Commissioner and Secretary, Youth Affairs and Sports, FR Kharkongor, Director of Sports and Youth Affairs, FM Dopth, sports minister Zenith Sangma, health minister AL Hek, urban affairs minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh and president of Meghalaya State Olympic Association, John Kharshiing among others.

Mary Kom turned out to be the undisputed star of the morning receiving the biggest attention from the participants who had gathered in the Fire Brigade ground.

Addressing the gathering prior to the start of the run, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said that it was only befitting that the “Run for North East” which served as a prelude to the SAG coincided with Meghalaya Day. He also said that it was a privilege for the state to host a sporting event of such magnitude.

Sangma also wished luck to all athletes scheduled to take part in the multinational event.

Actor Milind Soman, meanwhile, revealed his association with the South Asian Games as a participant in the late 1980s.

Later the mascot of the 12^th SAG, Tikhor handed over the relay torch to CEO SAG (Shillong ) RK Sharma who passed it to sports minister Zenith Sangma and subsequently to the chief guest chief minister Mukul Sangma.

The chief minister handed over the torch to Mary Kom who kick-started the mini marathon. The ace boxer handed over the torch to Milind Suman at the Fire Brigade junction and the torch changed hands again at St Edmund’s gate when Sarita Devi took over.

The crowd of participants, meanwhile, joined the celebrities in the run till Polo. Interestingly, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma followed the torch on foot all the way to Polo where a closing ceremony of the Run for North East was held.

Director of Sports and Youth Affairs, FM Dopth formally handed over the relay torch to president AFIP, A Sumariwalla at Polo.

Performances by bands and other artistes followed at the first ground, Polo even as renowned sports personalities of the state—Fullmoon Pyrthuh (footballer), Ailad Kynta (footballer), L Suting (football) Edward Mawthoh (kick boxing), Torak Kharpran (boxing), Benningstar Lyngkhoi (athlete), Linza Syiem (karetaka), Bansara Dhar (archery) and Wansuk Myrthong (mountaineering)—were felicitated. –By Our Reporter