Hailakandi, Jan. 2: In a bid to catch young talent, a new sports school was inaugurated here by a voluntary organisation, Society for Education and Environment Development (SEED), on New Year's day.

Public health engineering minister Gautam Roy inaugurated the school at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Stadium here. In charge of the school and vice-president of SEED, Anis Ahmed Laskar, told The Telegraph that the aim was to keep the children physically fit. At present, they have enrolled 60 children from Classes I to VIII.

Laskar said the school would initially have football coaching and for this an AFC licensee coach from Manipur, Shyamjai Singha, has been employed. The football programme of the school will run seven months in a year. The coaching classes will be held at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Stadium at 3pm everyday.

Roy assured help to the school and sought the assistance of former players. Patron of District Sports Association of Hailakandi and former MLA Rahul Roy praised the initiative and said the district should set an example in this regard.