Arunachal Pradesh Sports & Youth Affairs Minister Mama Natung on Monday felicitated P Nobin Jomoh for winning a silver medal in the recently concluded National Pencak Silat championship held at indoor sports complex in Jammu & Kashmir.

Jomoh bagged the silver medal in the event of 90-95 kg weight category of senior Tanding game, organized by Indian Pencak Silat Federation in March this year.

Natung appreciated Jomoh for winning a medal in the championship and also making the state proud. He said that winning a silver medal in a championship which is very new to the state is praiseworthy.

The minister also appreciated the entire members of Arunachal Pradesh Pencak Silat Association for their endeavor to encourage the youths of the state towards the game. Natung informed that the sports department is planning to launch ‘Drugs Choro, Khel Mein Joro’ (Quit Drugs, Join Sports) campaign in the state to encourage the drug addicts to join sporting activities.

He said the district based sports organization under the Sports Authority of Arunachal (SAA) would be included in the campaign to create awareness among the youths on drug usage and its implications in life.

“When a drug addict joins in any kind of sporting activity, he will automatically liberate it,” the minister said and appealed to the youths to participate in sports activity for healthy living and its other prospects in life.

Speaking on the occasion, Jomoh said that Pencak Silat is indigenous martial arts of Indonesia and Malaysia and is a non aggressive form of sports associated with self defense, physical fitness, dance and acrobatics. He said that the event was very new to him when he went to J&K to represent the state. He had only twenty days to practice the new form of sports before the championship.

“The sports have its own benefits; it enhances and strengthens self-awareness, self discipline, integrity, responsibility and teamwork among the newcomers,” he said, adding that the game is even recognized by the union Ministry of Sport & Youth Affairs.

Appreciating the minister for felicitating him and his team from the state, Jomoh appealed to the youths to join in any kind of sports rather than spending time in ineffective purposes. He said that the game is also recognized by Sports Authority of India (SAI), All India Universities Game (AIUG), School Game Federation of India (SGFI) and All India Police Game (AIPG).