MEIRAA cruise to 4th Khumukcham Ibungoyaima Memorial Veteran Hockey title
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 16 2019:
MEIRAA, Bashikhong earned the title of 4th Khumukcham Ibungoyaima Singh Memorial Men's Hockey tournament organised under the aegis of Manipur Veteran Hockey Association at Hockey Stadium Khuman Lampak today after a narrow 2-1 win against YAC, Yaiskul.
It was a keenly contested match and YAC won 3 penalty corners against 2 by MEIRAA, but both teams failed to convert the chances into goals.
Both MEIRAA and YAC started the game cautiously and shared one goal each in the first quarter as YAC equalised through Y Jayenta in the 12th minute after MEIRAA enjoyed an early lead with the help of N Sunil's 7th minute strike.
MEIRAA's winning goal came up in the second quarter when Th Birjit found the target in the 27th minute.
N Sunil of MEIRAA, YAC's Kh Priyokumar and S Tarun were booked green cards respectively in the 25th, 28th and 37th minutes of the match.
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The final match cum closing ceremony of the tournament was graced by L Mobi Singh, president, Indoor Hockey Association Manipur; P Nilakomol, senior vice president, Manipur Veteran Hockey Association; Th Arunkumar, proprietor, Arun Enterprises and A Deepchandra Sharma, Junior Engineer, Manipur Police Housing Corporation as dignitaries who also feted the winners, runners up, team and other individual prizes.
Winners, MEIRAA were honoured with Rs 10,000 and a trophy and runners up YAC were feted with Rs 7,000 and a trophy, both sponsored by Khumukcham Ongbi Leoni Devi Memorial Trust, Khuyathong.
Third placed, COSMO received a cash prize of Rs 5,000 and a trophy and Thoubal Hockey Association were awarded the fair play trophy worth Rs 2000 .
Thoubal Hockey Association's K Michael, who was named best veteran hockey promoter; best coach, Th Rameshor of MEIRAA; best goalkeeper, Th Ranjit of MEIRAA; best defender, N Gunamani of MEIRAA; best mid-fielder, L Ibotombi of COSMO, Wangkhei; best attacker, Th Sanjit of YAC, best player for above 50 years, N Jiteshwar of Hockey Union; man of the final match, Th Birjit of MEIRAA; top scorer, MEIRAA's N Gunamani who scored 7 goals at the tournament; player of the tournament, MEIRAA's B Inaocha Sharma were feted with Rs 1,000 and trophies sponsored by various hockey enthusiasts and former national and international players from the State.
RK Nirpen of YAC, Yaiskul, who was the eldest player to feature in the final match, was also encouraged with Rs 500 on the occasion.