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| Forest minister Rakibul Hussain, former table tennis players Kamlesh Mehta and Monalisa Baruah Mehta and Korean coach Li Jung Sik with young paddlers in Guwahati on Thursday. Picture by UB Photos |
Guwahati, June 21: Arjuna awardee and eight time former national champion Kamlesh Mehta today stressed on the need for self-esteem as the key to success in sport.
Interacting with 100 promising paddlers of the state at Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phookan indoor stadium here, Mehta said apart from respecting their coaches and parents, every sportsperson should have self-respect if they want to become successful.
“Unless you respect yourself, you cannot have the confidence which is vital to excel in sports. The success mantra is always to have self-esteem,” he said.
He said every player should try to put into practice what he or she learns in the camp, to become successful paddlers. “The infrastructure here is one of the best in the country. There is also abundant talent, but infrastructure alone cannot produce players. It is the organisers who will have to help players with coaching and logistic facilities. Now, it is upto the players to bring back the golden era in Assam table tennis,” the former paddler said. He also said the former national champions from the state were produced without quality infrastructure like at present.
Assam Table Tennis Association president and forest minister Rakibul Hussain said, “I am thankful to chief minister Tarun Gogoi for creating world-class infrastructure in our state, without which it is difficult to produce good players.”
Mehta further said when the state was awarded the 33rd National Games, many had doubted if Assam could organise the mega event successfully. “However, even Suresh Kalmadi had remarked the National Games were one of the best games ever. If we can be such good organisers, I believe we can also produce champion players,” he said.
Former state women’s champion Monalisa Baruah Mehta also appreciated the association’s initiative to organise a camp under a leading international coach like Li Jung Sik and asked players to make the most of it. “These are rare opportunities for a young player and they should try to make the most of it,” she said.
Chess: Guwahati Chess Association will organise the Brahma Dutta Sarma Bordoloi Guwahati Chess Championship at Shilpgram from June 28 to July 1.
Coaching: Guwahati Sports Association will organise a summer cricket coaching camp for under-16 players from July 4. Interested players can contact Bablu Choudhury by June 30.
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