Hockey Arunachal President Dr. Gumjum Haider Dedicates ‘Best Administrator’ Award to People of Arunachal Pradesh

Guwahati: The Annual North East Hockey Award Ceremony, held today at the Manipur Bhawan in Guwahati, celebrated the region’s top administrators, with Dr. Gumjum Haider, President of Hockey Arunachal, dedicating his prestigious award to the people of his state. Dr. Haider was honoured as the Best Sports Administrator in Hockey for his “discipline leadership and clean administration.” Dr. Haider is also recognized as the Founder-Cum-President of Hockey Arunachal, an organization established in 2010 with the motto “To promote Hockey in Arunachal Pradesh.” His leadership has been a key factor in the development of the sport in the state, often working to spread awareness and overcome the lack of proper facilities and equipment in the past, a mission which included efforts to ensure the utilization of the first world-class Hockey turf inaugurated at the Sangay Lhaden Sports Academy at Chimpu. He was recently re-elected unopposed as President of Hockey Arunachal in August 2023 for another four-year term. Beyond his role in sports, Dr. Haider has also served in the public sector as a State Information Commissioner and is known for his earlier role as a former General Secretary of the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) and the North East Students’ Organization (NESO), demonstrating a long-standing commitment to public life in the state.

In an emotional and inspiring address, Dr. Haider dedicated the accolade, stating, “This award is not mine alone; it belongs to the resilient and dedicated people of Arunachal Pradesh. Their unwavering spirit is the true power behind our success. We will continue to climb, believing in that beautiful thought that the journey of a thousand goals begins with a single, disciplined step.” His comments resonated with the gathering, emphasizing the emotional connection between sport and community spirit. The ceremony also paid tribute to other major contributors to North East sports development. Shri Gyanendra Ningombam, the former President of Hockey India, was conferred the title of Sports Architect of North East in recognition of his extensive association with Hockey and his significant role in sports development, particularly in Manipur and the North East in general. Meanwhile, Shri Tapan Das, the President of Hockey Assam, was recognized as the Best Hockey Promoter of Northeast India for his relentless work in popularizing the game across the region.

The high-profile event drew prominent hockey administrators and players from six North Eastern states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Tripura. Held in the august presence of various media houses and dedicated Hockey Sponsors, the ceremony underscored the growing momentum and collaborative spirit driving the future of hockey across the North Eastern states.