Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 05 2008:
Villagers of Khoijuman Maning Leikai village in Manipur's Bishnupur district are all set to welcome their hero Thokchom Nanao who won Youth World Boxing champion in Mexico.
"Efforts are on now to welcome him here,we'll inform media in time as well"Kiran,a resident of the village,the native village of pugilist Nanao told this reporter over phone on Wednesday.
Reports reaching here added many villagers including Nanao's near and dear ones have been still visiting his residence to greet his family.
According to him,youth world champion boxer Nanao has finally reached New Delhi late last night.
He is expected to stay in the national capital till Saturday before he fly down to Pune and the to Imphal.
But Nanao could not be contacted due to network failure.
Twenty one year old Nanao,a resident of Khoijuman Maning Leikai in Bishnupur district won gold medal after defeating Grigoryi Nikolaychuk of Russia 15-5 in 48 kg-category in the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championship held at Guadalaraja of Mexico.
The people of Manipur went up in joy since the news of this young boxer's victory reached here few days back.
Local MLA Dr I Ibohalbi and newly elected president of Manipur Olympic Association and ruling legislator Bijoy Koijam had already announced a cash award of Rs 50,000 each for the young man for becoming the Youth World Boxing champion.
Even Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and sports minister Nongthonbam Biren have poured encomiums on Nanao.
CM Ibobi in his message stated that it was indeed a proud and jubilant moment for the people of Manipur in particular and the entire country in general.
This once again proved that Manipur, though small in size and population, has the potential to outshine other parts of the world in the field of sports.
He will definitely continue to outshine in his sports career and will also serve as a role model for all the aspiring puglists of the state.
Appreciating and encouraging the success of Nanao the government of Manipur decided to provide him a suitable government job along with other facilities which were provided to other world champions of the state in past.