Manipur to get world class football academy: Sports Minister

New Delhi [India], Feb 22 (ANI): Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Thursday met a group of 20 school students of Manipur at the Shastri Bhawan here on Thursday.

These students are on a national integration tour organised by the Assam Rifles.

After the meeting, Rathore assured that the Sports Ministry would establish a world-class football academy in Manipur to promote sports activities in the North East.

Rathore said, "These students have come from Sajik Tampak village in Chandel district of Manipur. These students are from different schools and I have been told that they have come outside of their village for the first time."

He added, "They all wanted the government to do something for the development of football in the state. In India's FIFA Under-17 team, eight players were from Manipur alone. But surprisingly those eights players got trained outside Manipur. It shows that the state is in a dire need of a football academy."

"So the sports ministry, with the help of Manipur Government, will develop a world-class football academy here," the 2004 Olympic medallist notified.

Meanwhile, Rathore also appreciated the national integration imitative and said that the initiative would provide exposure to the students.

"This will help them to dream big and achieve great things in life," the Sports Minister said. (ANI)