By our Sports Reporter
GUWAHATI, Jan 27: Veteran sports organizer Nripendra rayan Singha passed away at Jorhat on Tuesday after prolonged illness. He was 87. The State Government accorded full State honour to the eminent sports organiser.
Singha, a contemporary of another noted sports organizer of Assam Pulin Das who passed away recently, was a well–known sportsman, sports organiser and football referee. He was among the rare soccer referees from Assam who got opportunity to officiate different top level tiol soccer tourment. In 1964 he was entrusted the responsibility by the AIFF to officiate the Santosh Trophy fil also. Singha was also appointed as the mager of the Indian Davis cup team that played against Sri Lanka in Guwahati 1967.
A recipient of life time achievement award from the Assam Sports Jourlists Association, Singha was associated with many sports associations including Assam Football Association along with state Sports Council and Sports Authority of Assam. He was also instrumental to produce many noted sports persons of the state.
In a statement, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi deeply mourned the death of Singha. "Assam lost an eminent sportsperson and organiser who made outstanding contribution to the development of games and sports. The contribution by Singha for the development of games and sports, particularly football, would be remembered for all times to come. The void created by his death will be hard to fill," said Chief Minister. Gogoi also announced that the State Government would accord full State honour to this eminent sports organizer.
Meanwhile Singha’s death has been widely mourned by different sports organisations. Directorate of the Sports and Youth Welfare today organized a meeting in the office premises to condole the death of Singha. Condolence meeting was also held at SAI office which was attended by Subhash Basumatari, the director in charge of SAI, Jayanta Boro, the president of the Archery Association of Assam along with many sports organizer and athletes. Among others who condoled the death of Singha included Assam Sepak Takraw Association, Asom Ga Parishad, Young Star Football Coaching Centre, Assam Athletic Association and Assam Cricket Association. Sarat Barkotoky, the Education Minister, who is also the president of the Assam Sepak Takraw Association and Bishnu Ram Nunisha, the secretary of the same sports association, in a condolence message described Singha’s death a great lose.
Prafulla Mahanta, the former president of the Asom Ga Parishad and former Chief Minister of Assam, in his condolence message said," Country had lost a great sports organizer." The ACA president Gautam Roy and secretary Bikash Baruah also termed Singha’s death a great lose in the sports of Assam.