All Manipur Polo Assn to All Manipur Sagol Kangjei Assn idea mooted
CM calls for promotion of Manipuri Pony
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Imphal, November 27 2022:
The 1st Chief Minister's Sagol Kangjei Championship 2022, organised by the All Manipur Polo Association (AMPA) concluded today at Kangla.
The championship was organized under the theme of "Save Manipuri Pony, save grazing fields, revive Sagol Kangjei" as a part of the campaign to save Manipuri ponies.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh who was the chief guest of the closing ceremony lowered the flag of the championship and declared the championship closed.
Before proceeding to Kangla, the Chief Minister unveiled the newly restored statue of 'Maharaj Bhagyachandra and elephant' at Khwairamband Keithel.
Restoration of the historic statue was undertaken by Department of Art & Culture and it was implemented by Engineering Cell, Health & Family Welfare Department.
Addressing the closing ceremony, N Biren strongly advocated preservation and promotion of Sangol Kangjei that is indigenous to 'our culture' .
"Preservation of the Sagol Kangjei includes all aspects of care, remembrance and revival of the Manipuri Pony that played a major role in protecting us since time immemorial", he said.
N Biren recalled how during the Seven Years Devastation, Manipuri horses or ponies had declined due to invasion of Manipur by the Burmese.
The Burmese had captured around 2000 horses for cavalry purposes around that time.
They kept the horses in Burma and invaded Thailand with the help of those horses, he added.
He made a proposal to the organisers to rename the All Manipur Polo Association as the All Manipur Sagol Kangjei Association and also suggested creating a corpus fund to organise this tournament every year without fail.
"It is our duty to save the Sagol Kangjei that is indigenous to the State of Manipur", he added.
Functional president, Rajya Sabha Member Maharaja Leisemba Sanajaoba said, "Organising the 1st Chief Minister's Sagol Kangjei Championship gives us an opportunity to save Manipuri pony, ensure their survival and develop the indigenous game of Sagol Kangjei" .
He also expressed desire to include Sagol Kangjei in the school syllabus.
The championship started from November 18 and continued for 10 days.
Manipur Police Polo Team and Tentha Polo Club played the final match and Manipur Police Polo Team won the First Chief Minister's Sagol Kangjei Championship, 1022 and received a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh with trophy and runners-up Tentha Polo Club received a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh with trophy.