Silver at Tokyo Olympics : Cup of joy for Manipur, India

Free Thinker *

Saikhom Mirabai Chanu with family members

As promised the State Government is supposed to give 1 Cr rupees to Mirabai Chanu for winning a Silver medal in Tokyo Olympics 2020 (not to be confused -Tokyo Olympics 2020, held in 2021, because of Covid pandemic). She lost 25 lakhs to China's lifter Zhihui, otherwise she would have got a full Rs 1.25 Cr.

Regarding declaring holiday, we have already approached the competent authorities and they say that it hardly matters, these days every day is holiday; they are true and no hurt feelings, remembering Dingko's time. But for celebration some more rice may be distributed because rice is multi-purpose for the common people.

Mirabai Chanu wins India's first medal at Tokyo Olympics 202O as she has bagged Silver in the 49 kg women's weightlifting. She got a total of 202 points, Chinese gold medalist scored 210 points and Indonesian bronze medalist could manage only 194 points (subject to correction).

The the Covid pandemic, the country is once again smiling for winning the first medal in Tokyo on the first day of competition. We are really proud to say that the first medal of the Nation is won by a Chanu from Manipur, where the National Sports University is deservingly located. Though the ground development process is slow the work progress for making the Sports University functional is going on smoothly.

Sometimes our sports persons get irritated and discouraged by the lethargic and unresponsive nature of those who are at the helm of affairs. Before the pandemic when we met the erstwhile Sports Minister, he told us that the progress for setting up the National Sports University (NSU) is slowed down due to some land issues.

Now that issue is almost settled, so the progress must be there. If almost all the sports colleges, institutions and campuses under NSU are located far away from the University itself the purpose of setting it up is defeated.

North East particularly Manipur is considered a sports power-house; there are innumerable untapped talents ; so in order to tap those talents the University was probably started in the State. Frankly I have not gone through the statement of Objects of the Bill (NSU Act).

If I am not mistaken this university was set up to provide National and international infrastructure and facilities so that the sporting talents in the North East are nurtured properly. There is nothing wrong in setting up another Sports University in Haryana, a sports hub; if we can afford another NSU in the South that will be wonderful. Then we will be able to harvest more sports talents in the country.

Another important component to sustain our games and sports is the patronage; lifelong patronage is required. Just giving cash prizes and awards at the time of winning medals may not be able to sustain the sportspersons throughout their lives.

So, a sustainable way should be worked out; after retirement from National or international sports, the sportspersons must be given pension, till they die. Otherwise they may feel betrayed and discarded.

India is exuberating on winning the first medal in Tokyo Olympics 2020. I am quoting some of the tweets of our leaders:

President of India, Shri Ramnath Kovin ji tweets – " Heartiest Congratulations to Mirabai Chanu for starting the medal tally for Tokyo in the Olympics 2020 by winning silver medal in weightlifting". Hon. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi tweets - "Could not have asked for a happier start to Tokyo 2020 ! India is elated by Mirabai Chanu's stupendous performance. Congratulations to her for winning the silver medal in weightlifting. Her success motivates every Indians."

Chief Minister Shri Biren Singh also tweeted on this happy occasion- "What a day! What a win for India, Mirabai Chanu wins silver in women's weight lifting 49 kg, India opens tally in Tokyo Olympics, and you have made the country proud today, Bravo".

Sorry, I can't quote all the tweets of our leaders. Almost everyone has tweeted. I have quoted only those which are important from buttering point of view. At the moment we have issues with twitter still we are tweeting left and right, day and night; this shows that we are a great democracy with a big heart.

Dr Raj Kumar Ranjan Singh, Union Minister of State for Education & External Affairs also tweets on the amazing feat of Mirabai Chanu – "A big Congratulations to our sister from Manipur, Mirabai Chanu for creating history by clinching India's first medal in 49 kg category of women's weightlifting in Olympics history."

Now, here comes my tweets for this thrilling moment- "First, let me congratulate our sister Sushila Likmabam for her successful participation in Tokyo Olympics; in Judo it appears we are technically lagging behind if not in strength and courage, so nothing to be sad about for Sushila ji has done extremely well; reaching Olympics in itself is a great feat. Great Day for India in Tokyo & what a proud moment for Manipur !