Polo team launched, field inaugurated
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 13 2016:
In a bid to
save the game of polo and
popularize it, a new polo team
namely 'Heingang Pana' has
been launched at Ipudhou
Marjing Khubam, Heingang
Ching in Imphal East district
today.
As part of the function, a
newly constructed practice
field located nearby was also
inaugurated.
Known as 'Sagol Kangjei'
in local parlance, polo origi-
nated in Manipur and Ibu-
dhou Marjing is believed to
have invented the game.
The new team was laun-
ched by Manipur Legislative
Assembly Deputy Speaker
MK Preshow Shimray who
attended the function as the
chief guest.
Heingang AC MLA N
Biren was the functional
president while Saikot MLA
TN Haokip, Lamlai MLA
Ksh Biren, Sugnu MLA K
Ranjit, Nambol MLA N
Loken and Heingang Gram
Panchayat Pradhan L Manihar
were the guests of honour.
Preshow Shimray stated
that the initiative of Ipudhou
Marjing Khubam Kanba Lup
(IMKHUKAL) must be en-
couraged as it is an important
step towards popularizing the
game.
He added that the efforts
of the State Government re-
garding development of the
game and implementation of
pony breeding programme
would not serve any purpose
if there is no support from
the general public.
He urged the people to
extend cooperation to the
Government in saving Mani-
puri ponies.
He also urged the
public to contribute their mites
in developing 'Heingang
Pana'.
In his speech, N Biren said
that people should not bring
politics in development works
and sports.
If people of the area con-
tinue to protest for conservation and preservation of ponies, the game of polo
would suffer badly in the long run.
He further said that the State
Government had sanctioned a Rs 12 crore project to install a 160-
feet high statue of a polo player on the top of the nearby hill to mark
the birthplace of polo.
The MLA also urged the people to extend
their support in the endeavour of IMKHUKAL to popularize polo
in the area.