Aalo, Sep 30: Advocate Kento Jini, Hon’ble Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Law, Legislative and Justice, Social Justice and other departments, graced the valedictory function of the First Interdepartmental Sports Tournament 2026 as the Chief Guest at Aalo Stadium.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Kento Jini said he was overwhelmed to witness the enthusiastic participation and the large gathering of sports lovers at the closing ceremony. He congratulated the organisers and all participating departments for successfully conducting the tournament.

The Minister said the event would provide a meaningful platform for government employees to interact with one another beyond their respective departments and foster unity, coordination and team spirit. He expressed appreciation to all the departments that participated in the tournament and said that, in the days to come, the event would be organised as an annual sports event.

Appreciating the efforts of DSO West Siang Eken Bam and his team, the Minister said such initiatives would contribute towards developing a stronger sporting culture in the district.

Speaking about the development of sports infrastructure in Aalo, Minister Kento Jini informed that the Aalo Outdoor Stadium works are expected to commence soon, with the stadium targeted for completion and handover to the public by March 2027. He also informed that another parking facility is coming up in the township.

The Minister appealed to the public to cooperate with the administration and avoid using the stadium premises until the completion of the ongoing development works, so that construction and related works can proceed smoothly.

Describing Aalo as one of the promising upcoming headquarters of Arunachal Pradesh, he appealed to the public and administration to work together for the beautification and cleanliness of Aalo township. He urged citizens to properly segregate waste at source and appealed to everyone to collectively keep Aalo a green and clean town.

Earlier, Deputy Commissioner West Siang, Sri Mindo Loyi, who served as the Organising Chairman, welcomed the dignitaries, participants and public. He described the 12-day tournament as a memorable event and said it showcased healthy competition, discipline, teamwork and coordination among government employees. He expressed appreciation for the quality and sporting spirit displayed by the participants and said that the tournament would be continued as an annual event.

The tournament saw participation from 23 government departments, involving around 1,000 government employees. The matches were also live-telecast, giving the public an opportunity to follow the sporting events.

The final football match was played between the District Judiciary and 2nd AAPBn, 2nd AAPBn won the match by 6-0 goals at general ground Aalo, while the Education Department emerged victorious in badminton.

The valedictory ceremony was further enriched by a colourful Maga dance performance by students of SFS College, Aalo, showcasing the region’s rich cultural heritage.

The closing ceremony was witnessed by Heads of Departments, the Chief Judicial Magistrate, former Ministers, senior citizens, government officials, members of the public and students.

The successful completion of the first Interdepartmental Sports Tournament marked a significant step towards promoting sports, fitness, camaraderie and healthy interaction among government employees in West Siang.

After the successful completion of the First-Ever West Siang Interdepartmental Tournament, the medal tally is as follows:

1. Health Department – 2 Gold Medals

2. 2nd AAPBn – 1 Gold Medal and 1 Silver Medal

3. Urban Development Department – 1 Gold Medal

4. Education Department – 2 Silver Medals

5. Judiciary Department – 1 Silver Medal

The Health Department emerged as the top-performing department in the medal tally, securing a total of 2 Gold Medals. (DIPRO)