Imphal, March 04 2009: With a view to encourage sports among the youths of Manipur while selecting outstanding young sports talents for Boys Sports Companies (BSC) and also for training at regimental centres, a three-day Red Shield Talent Scouting and Recruitment Rally is being organised by the 57 Mountain Division at the ITC Coy LoC of 165 TA battalion, Koirengei in Imphal.

The event began today and will continue till March 6. Addressing the opening ceremony of the recruitment rally, GOC 57 Mountain Division, Major General Shakti Gurung, VSM said, "The army is looking for such promising sportsmen to be recruited and represent the country in international sports events, especially the Olympic Games".

Asserting that it was a golden opportunity for the youths of Manipur to get themselves recognised, the GOC informed that the induction cum recruitment would be of two categories � juniors who would be inducted into BSC, trained under an expert coach besides boarding, lodging and formal education to be provided by the army, and the second category, which is of higher age bracket, will be recruited in different regiments and units of the Army.

Major General Shakti Gurung expressed his regards to the outstanding sports personalities of Manipur and young children who have the potential and talents to excel in sports.

He further said that in the recent time the youths of Manipur have prove their worth in various games and sports both in national and international arena.

The event will give the brave warriors of the land of jewels a great opportunity to expose themselves to the world with the Mission Olympic 2012 engaged by the Army.

Starting from a minimum age of nine years, the candidates will be recruited in eleven disciplines comprising archery, athletics, boxing, canoeing, diving, kayaking, football, hockey, weight lifting, wrestling and fencing.

Expert officials from five recruiting agencies namely, Army Sports Institute (ASI) of Pune, BSC, 58 GTC of Shillong, Madras Engineering Group (MEG) Centre of Bangalore and Artillery Centre of Nasik were present at the rally to select and recruit the best of the sportspersons from the state.

Answering to media's query about the number of vacancy, Col Varinder Singh from ASI Pune clarified that there is no fixed quota.

If suitable sportsmen are found, all may be selected.

And what is more is the fact that outstanding sports personnel lacking minor requirements will be considered.

About 2000 young boys of the age group of nine to about 16 attended recruitment rally on the first day today.

The General also felicitated 11 outstanding sportsmen from the state.

Noted amongst them being first women International gymnast and national gold medal winner MsLuwang Leima, T Johnson young medal winner in Diving at national level, Vidyalakshmi who won a silver medal in Asian Cadet Championship were also felicitated.

According to a press release from the PIB (DW), the show stealer however was suave, calm and quiet Ms Marry Kom who despite her excellent achievement is as exacting a sport as Boxing was all grace when she received a token of appreciation from the General.

As part of the rally, military equipments such as remote operating vehicles used to expose IED bombs or other high explosives planted by enemies, medical stalls with awareness on HIV/AIDS were also displayed.

Band stalls with melodies by the personnel of 57 Mt Div and other various facilities including canteen were also displayed on the occasion.

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