The Jharkhand Games will improve the performance of players in the state.

Jamshedpur, June 6: The Jharkhand Olympic Association (JOA) will request the state government to organise the Jharkhand Games from this year.

According to the JOA, the Jharkhand Games would prepare the players in the state for national and international events. JOA treasurer Madhukant Pathak told The Telegraph that the association would meet chief minister Arjun Munda and discuss the issue. “I am optimistic that the government will organise the Jharkhand Games as it would be of immense help to the players in the states. The event will be a good preparatory ground for the players before the inaugural Youth National Games next year,” he said.

JOA secretary general S.M. Hashmi said from Dhanbad that the Youth National Games would be held in Bangalore in January next year. “The Jharkhand Games will give the players adequate exposure. We have talented players in the state, but they don’t get a chance to hone their skills. Competitions are a must. We are very keen to make our players participate in as much disciplines as possible. This can happen only if the Jharkhand Games are organised in a big way,” he said.

Pathak said the JOA had spent around Rs 4.5 lakh in the last state games held in October 2002. “Due to paucity of funds we could include only 12 disciplines, including football, hockey, basketball, athletics, kabaddi and table tennis. Things will be different if the games are organised by the government,” he said. Jharkhand Games was organised by the Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council (JAAC) before the formation of Jharkhand. It was organised for the first time by the JOA last year. “Jharkhand fares badly in national events because the athletes have no exposure. The Jharkhand Games and the subsequent intensive coaching camps will keep our athletes in good stead,” a JOA official said.