WANGKHEIMAYUM CHURA: A known Hockey player of ESU
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 07, 2014:
'ON THE GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS' reproduces here the sports profile of veteran player W.Chura from Ratneshwori Goswami's Akao Parei Chankhrabasing published in the Hueiyen Lanpao (Manipuri).
ON THE GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS-57
Seram Neken
Eastern Sporting Union had a wonderful performance in Hockey during the 1950s.Wangkheimayum Chura was one of the Hockey players who played in right out position for the ESU during the prime period of the club.
Born in February 1936, he is the last son of Wangkheimayum Tomba Singh and Wangkheimayum Ongbi Kamini Devi.
Being brought up in a sports family, Chura had adapted to Hockey from the very childhood.
All his brothers including W.Nilamani were known Hockey players.
The sports career of W.Chura started when he was studying at Tombisana School.
The then Games Teacher Khongbantabam Tolhan encouraged and supported him in pursuing various games.
In an interview, the veteran player said, �In the beginning, I took up a long Hockey stick called Pakistan Buffering�.
Chura who played under the eastern Sporting Union for a long time recalled, �By the 1950s, there were enough spaces at Wangkhei area.
We used to practice at the ground presently occupied by All India Radio station�.
Veteran Hockey Player Wangkheimayum Chura was in the Manipur Team during the 1957 Inter District Hockey Tournament held in Shillong.
According to him, those in the team were Kshetrimayum Ibohal (team captain), Ng.
Jugindrokumar (Longjam Tombi, Wangkheimayum Nilamani, Ngairangbam Mani, Guruaribam Tomchoubi, Sougaijam Dhiren, RK Sanajaoba, Elangbam Ibohal, G.Gouramadhov, and W.Chura himself.
Manipur team and Aizawl played the finals in which the two teams finished a draw in the first match and in the second match Manipur defeated Aizawl by 2-1 goals.
Manipur team with him also participated in the Rangaswami Cup (Senior National Hockey Championship) in 1957 held in Bombay.
He added that in the Inter District Hockey tournament in Silchar, Manipur team grasped runners up title while Aizawl lifted the trophy.
�ESU was a popular Hockey club during our time.
Yumnam Gopal from Bamon Leikai was dedicated organizer and team manager of ESU who led the team to various Inter District tournaments, Independence Cups etc.
Angom Sanatomba was also a keen organizer of the club.� the veteran player further added.
Once his brother W Nilamani joined the TRAU club which even played against ESU.
As stated by Chura, all his brothers were ardent Hockey players.
Mentioning the eminent players of ESU such as Thangjam Modhu of Khuari (Back), Ngairangbam Mani from Lairikyengbam Leikai, Sanasam Kunjabihari, Helim Chowdhry, Thongam Suni, Eigya Basudeva, Bamon Ibotombi, Tomchoubi, Jiteshore, RK Irabot, RK Amubisana and Kunjo from Wangkhei, Chura said that with the demise of most of these persons, Hockey has now been declined in the state particularly the ESU.
According to W.Chura, the tradition of hiring players from other clubs has been hampering the sports development in various clubs.
The clubs need to nurture their own talents, instead of buying players from other clubs.
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