Manipur, a tiny state in North East India, is the power house of sports in India, despite having a population of just around 2.7 million. The state has won several medals for India, leaving behind the much big states; and there are several Manipuri who have won medals for other states by representing them in NATIONAL GAMES. Most of the population in this state is actively involved in various kinds of sports, and many have done India proud at international sports competitions.
Mary Kom (Boxing), Kunjarani Devi (Weightlifting), Sarita Devi (Boxing), Sanjita Chanu (Weightlifting), Devendro Singh (Boxing), Dingko Singh (Boxing), Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting), Kalpana Devi (Judo), Boithang Haokip (Football) are some of the famous greatest athletes (sports persons) produced by Manipur. No wonder Manipur is often referred to as the powerhouse of sports in India.
Sports in Manipur
Sports is embedded in Manipuri culture; the state is home to several popular traditional sports/games including Sagol Kangjei, Thang Ta & Sarit Sarak, Khong Kangjei, Yubi Lakpi, Mukna, Hiyang Tannaba and Kang.
Manipur is the birth place of Polo, known here as Sagol Kangjei, which literally means hockey played on the horse. The Imphal Polo Ground is among the oldest in the world.
- Thang Ta & Sarit Sarak are skillful and energetic martial arts.
- Khong Kangjei is also known as Manipuri hockey which is played with seven players on each side like polo.
- Yubi lakpi is a seven-a-side Manipuri version of rugby. ‘Yubi’ in Manipuri means coconut and ‘Lakpi’ means snatching.
- Mukna is the name given to Manipuri wrestling, which is played between two male rivals.
Manipur is also home to several clubs & sports associations.
Birthplace of Polo
Did you know?
Manipur is not only the birthplace of modern polo, it is home to a formidable women’s team.
Manipur is the birth place of Polo and the game is still deeply entrenched in the culture and religion of Manipuri people. Manipur has its own horse-deity, shrine and ceremonies and the sport is still played during Lai Haraoba, a Meitei festival.
Unlike in other parts of India (and the world) polo in Manipur is an egalitarian game (not just for the rich) — almost every family owned a pony, and even today people across social classes play the game.
Women’s Polo team ushering quiet revolution
Today, Manipur has about two dozen women professional polo players representing two-thirds of all women polo players in India. They come from modest backgrounds, but come with fierce determination. And they all start young.
In fact, women in Manipur are now challenging the stereotypes that polo is a game for men.
Lot of women had opted out of Polo after marriage and having children, but a lot of them (in their 40s) have started returning to the game (probably inspired by Mary Kom).
Archery in Manipur
The sport of archery (bow and arrow) is an important part of Manipur culture and it is an extremely popular sport in Manipur. Parents here encourage their children to learn and master the sport of archery. No wonder the locals here are experts in archery.
The low-lying areas of Manipur are often used to practice this sport, and people can spend hours daily to practice this sport. Experts archers can shoot as many as five hundred arrows in a matter of few minutes.
Note: The Archery Association of India (AAI) has been promoting bamboo bows (also known as Indian round competition) by conducting national championships at senior, junior and sub-junior levels – and restricting archers to using bamboo bows only.
Mary Kom from Manipur
Arguably the most famous name to emerge from Manipur is none other than Mary Kom. This Indian boxer was born in Kangathei, Churachanpur, in Manipur. Right from a young age, Kom has good in athletics and boxing.
“The land on which her house once stood has no remnants of the family’s existence now. But everyone in this village, Kangathei in Imphal, knows where M.C. Mary Kom lived, and everyone, almost as if bound by habit, says she has made them proud. The site of her house is now an empty plot with a grove of banana trees on it. The house, villagers say, was just like theirs—made of mud, and a thatched or a tin roof. Then things changed for her.”
Mary Kom – SAI Boxing AcademyToday, the London Olympics bronze medallist and five-time world champion Mary Kom now has runs her own boxing school/academy in Imphal.
Spread over an area 3.30 acres, Mary’s academy is located in a tranquil location. Coaching, lodging, food and expenses incurred during tournaments are all taken care of. Through trials, the academy identifies boxers aged between 12 and 18 and prepares them in physical as well as psychological aspects.
National Sports University
The state, rich in diverse sports talents, will soon get a national sports university. A national sports university is being planned at Yaithibi Khunou, 30 km southeast of capital Imphal. The sports university is a tribute to the consistent and glorious contribution made by Manipuri youth in Olympics and other international sports competitions.
The Manipur government has handed over 337 acres of land to the union ministry of youth affairs and sports for setting up of the national sports university at Yaithibi Khunou in Thoubal district.
Sports is extremely popular in Manipur, is responsible for economic activity, and now several allied disciplines such as nutrition and physiotherapy will boost employment prospects for the youth of Manipur.
Website: nsu.ac.in
Sports Capital of India
The President of India, at the inauguration of the Sangai tourism festival in Imphal (capital city of Manipur) and said “nobody can forget the magnificent Mary Kom who has done India proud on several occasions”.
He said out of 21 Indian football players in the U 17 team, eight were from Manipur.
Terming Manipur as the sports capital of India, the President said there are many indigenous games in the state which are unique.
“India is grateful to Manipur for defending the country during World War II… During the 1891 war with the Britishers the brave soldiers showed their courage,” said President Ram Nath Kovind.
Manipur will play a vital role because of its proximity to Southeast Asian countries.
Kovind said: “When I go back to Delhi, I am taking black rice which is my favourite.”
About Manipur
Manipur (state of India) is located in the northeast. The state is bordered by other Indian states such as Nagaland, Assam, and Mizoram. It also shares its boundaries with Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) to the south and east.Manipur literally means “A jeweled land”; it is surrounded by blue hills with an oval shaped valley at the centre. When the British were here, Governor General of India lord Irwin on his visit had described ‘Manipur as the Switzerland of the East’.
Imphal is the capital city of Manipur. Manipur has Mediterranean climate with monsoon beginning March end and continues till September; maximum temperature in summer is 31°C (minimum at night drops to around 18°C).
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