Shillong, July 22: The Dorbar Shnong Pynthorumkhrah Golf Links has urged the Meghalaya Government to give greater financial support and priority to sports with wider public participation, particularly football and cricket, instead of focusing predominantly on golf in connection with the National Games.
The Dorbar Shnong has submitted a representation to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, seeking a more equitable allocation of public funds towards sports that are affordable and accessible to a larger section of society.
Addressing the media at the Dorbar Shnong office, Rangbah Shnong Michael Hek said the representation was approved by the Executive Committee following consultations with residents and reflected the sentiments of the local community.
Hek said the Dorbar Shnong appreciates the State Government’s efforts to promote Meghalaya as a sporting destination and its initiatives to host major sporting events. However, he expressed concern over what he described as the disproportionate allocation of public funds and emphasis on golf.
According to the representation, although golf is an internationally recognised sport, it remains beyond the reach of a large majority of people in Meghalaya due to the high cost of equipment, coaching, club membership and access to golf courses.
Hek said public funds allocated to the Shillong Golf Club for the National Games would benefit only a limited section of society, as golf continues to be largely accessible to a privileged few.
He pointed out that thousands of children and young people across villages, localities and schools in Meghalaya actively participate in football, cricket, athletics, volleyball, basketball and other community-based sports despite limited infrastructure, inadequate facilities and a shortage of equipment.
The Dorbar Shnong argued that greater investment in mass-participation sports would create opportunities for lakhs of young people in both urban and rural areas to develop their talents and represent Meghalaya and the country at higher levels.
The representation clarified that the Dorbar Shnong is not opposed to golf or seeking to undermine the legacy and importance of the Shillong Golf Club. Instead, it has appealed for a more equitable distribution of public resources, with greater emphasis on sports that are affordable, accessible and capable of benefiting a much larger section of society.
Concluding the appeal, Hek urged the Chief Minister to give careful consideration to the representation and increase government support, funding and infrastructure for mass-participation sports, particularly football and cricket, to ensure that every child in Meghalaya has an equal opportunity to pursue sporting excellence, regardless of their economic background.
