The South Asian Cross Country Championship 2022 will be held at Kohima, Nagaland in January 2022. This was informed by the Associate Vice President of Athletic Federation of India (AFI) and President, Nagaland Athletics Association, Abu Metha during a press conference held at RCEMPA, Jotsoma on 15^th October 2021.

With India set to host the South Asian Cross Country Championship (SACCC) 2022, Metha informed that the AFI has allotted Nagaland to host the SACCC 2022, which he said will be the biggest international event hosted in the State till date. The event will bring athletes, officials, and delegates from entire South Asian countries to participate in the Championship in Nagaland.

Metha informed that the bid to host the Championship was made to the AFI with the support of Chief Minister, Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio. He thanked the CM for giving the sports fraternity, Nagaland Athletics Association, and Nagaland Athletics Federation the mandate to go ahead with the bid, and also for assuring the State Government’s full support. He further appealed to the entire sports fraternity and all sections of people to come forward and support the event.

While stating that the SACCC will help propel Nagaland to the international sports map, Metha informed that the South Asian Athletics Federation will have its annual general meeting in Kohima during the Championship, and the 56^th National Cross Country Championship will be clubbed with the SACCC 2022.

With the AFI aware of the enormous amount of talent and potential amongst North-East youth to do well not just at the national level but at the international level, Metha said that the AFI is keen to promote athletics in the North-East region. Highlighting the importance of athletics in the foundation of many sports disciplines, he stated that without the development of athletics, track and field, and sports as a whole cannot develop.

Metha also informed that from next week AFI will conduct special training and workshops for coaches and technical officials at Kohima. The training and capacity building will be led by the Head Coach of AFI and the Head Coach of Team India (Athletics) at the Tokyo Olympics, P. Radhakrishnan Nair.

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