Golfer Zai's 3rd death anniversary observed
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 20 2016:
Games and sports in Sadar Hills today witnessed one of the most significant events of its kind during a football clinic held at Haipi village to commemorate the 3rd death anniversary of famous golfer, Zai Kipgen.
The trust in collaboration with Haipi Youth Club conducted a football clinic at his native village in Haipi, Sadar Hills where more than 15 ISL players from the State cheerfully attended the observation by participating in a friendly football match with Haipi Youth Club at Haipi playground.
Featuring top ISL players from the State like Sushil, Naoba, Jackie Chan, Subhash of Mumbai FC; Reagan and Satyasen of North East United; Gouramangi of FC Pune City; Milan of Delhi Dynamos; Romaria and Surchandra of DSK Pune; Lolendro Singh former Mohun Began captain; Dharamjit of Mohun Began; Johnson of Moirang FC and guest player Romi Meetei a renowned film maker and led by coach Bijen the ISL team won the friendly match by a margin of 5 goals to two against Haipi Youth Club.
Sushil and Subhash scored a double each while Jackie Chan contributed one for the ISL team while Haipi Youth Club witnessed their goals through Lamminlen and Thangngunglen.
Ex-MLA and the current president of NPP Manipur Unit, Thangminlen Kipgen, who is also the grandfather of Zai, hosted a grand feast at his Haipi residence.
It may be mentioned that, Golfer Zai was identified as a huge talent in his early teens.
He was ranked India's No 1 in the 13-17 category.
He became one of the youngest winners of the Hero Honda Tour at the age of 21 and at 22 he won the Hyundai-MGC Open in Chennai in 2001.In 2005, Zai began coaching at Delhi Golf Club (DGC) .
Zai suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away on July 19, 2013 at his Delhi residence at the age of 32 .