Harimati: Asian record holder in veteran Javelin throw
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Seram Neken

Imphal, January 13 2014 : Most of the women players of 1950s and 60s hailed from Tamphasana Girls' School.

Braving all the scolds of the society and the social taboos during those days, women actively entered into sports.

They are the forerunners of the present sportspersons.

'ON THE GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS' reproduces here the sports profile of veteran player Thongam Harimati Devi from Ratneshwori Goswami's Akao Parei Chankhrabasing published in the Huieyen Lanpao (Manipuri) . Thongam Harimati started playing various games while she was studying in class III at Tamphasana Girls' School which by then was situated at the place presently occupied by Maharaj Bodhachandra College.

Cycling, Badminton, Javelin throw, etc.

were her favourite games.

She learnt the Javelin techniques from Ningthoujam Binoy, who belonged to a sports family.

By that time, Saraswati Pujah in Tamphasana school was celebrated in a grand manner with sports and cultural meets for two days.

Students used to practice at the playground before a few days of the celebration.

In an interview, the mother of nine (eight sons and a daughter) narrated an amusing event that took during her schooldays.

One day while she was riding a bicycle along the road in front of CC School with her friend Purnimashi on the back, students of the CC School teased them with loud shouts.

She then entered the school and complained to the then Head Master Chingakham Pishak.

The Head Master paraded his students and punished the guilty.

Physically tall and active, Harimati was not a timid girl during those days.

In the Manipur Olympic Games held at Imphal Pologround from 25 to 28 December 1948, Harimati got first positions in Javelin and in one mile cycle race respectively.

She also earned second position in Badminton.

She could recollect the other participants of the cycle race as Mukhrasana and Haobam Surjamukhi, who ended in two rounds, while she continued to ride five rounds in the grassy ground.

Queen Iswari (wife of Maharaj Bodhachandra) who came to witness the Games and presented gifts to the position holder players.

It was really a pleasure to Harimati, who represented the Eastern Sporting Union.

She played enthusiastically in the State Olympic Games for four years from 1948 to 1951 .

Ojah Khaidem Pramodini (the late writer) was often the sports organizer during those days.

Lamabam Bani, Manishang, Manileima and Gambhi (sister of Momon) were the contemporary players of Harimati.

In 1952, Harimati was married to Thokchom Prakash Krishna of Sylhet (Bangladesh), who came to Manipur during India-Pakistan partition period.

Her husband was the stenographer during the time of MK Priyobatta.

Narrating her re-appearance in sports arena, Harimati said that Jamuna once came to her by 1982 and instigated to play for the veterans.

In the 2nd Asian Veteran Athletics Championships held in New Delhi from 18 to 20 March 1983, Harimati for the first time fielded as the veteran player of Manipur.

She could get various prizes in Javelin throws in the following veteran championships held elsewhere in the country.

In 1984, she went to Hong Kong to take part in Javelin, Shot Put and Discus throws for the 55-year category.

The team mates to Hong Kong were Sougaijam Poda, Momon Sija of Yaiskul, H.Jamuna, etc.

and the team was led by Milkha Singha.

Harimati could earn Gold in all the three events.

Again for the Veteran Championship in Rome, she was selected along with N.Momon Devi.

However, due to paucity of government funds, they could not take part in the international competition.

In 1993 also, she missed the Japan tour due to a major surgical operation.

In 1992 (11 to 14 June), Harimati took part in the 7th Asian Veteran Championship in Singapore, where she broke the Asian record in Javelin.

Other participants in the Championship were H.Jamuna, N.Momon, Bijenti, Momon Sija, Th.Pramoda, Memcha from Chajing etc.

Thongam Harimati, who had played actively during her adolescence without any proper coach and infrastructure, expressed satisfaction over the present trend of sports in Manipur.

She felt proud of the Manipuri women bringing laurels for the state and the country.

Women of present day Manipur as compared to those of the 1950s are free to play in the field.

Today they have all the opportunities to involve in various games.

The octogenarian woman player is now still taking interests in sports.

Her hobby is to glare the sports news in newspapers and listen to radio sports bulletins.

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