Governor stresses need to keep heritage alive
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Imphal, April 10 2017:
Governor Dr Najma Heptulla has said that Polo originated in the State and there is a need to keep "our heritage alive and to make it popular throughout the country and the world" .
Speaking at the felicitation function of veteran Polo players Yumnam Jila Singh and Kshetrimayum Joykumar Singh, today, at the Raj Bhavan, she said, "In the State, the game of Polo is played with only the Manipuri ponies, known for its sturdiness.
In other parts of the country and the world, bigger horses are used in the game which is difficult to adjust for the players of the State" .
Arrangements should be made to send players for training in other parts of the country to make them familiar with the use of bigger horses to enable them to compete in the International arena, she added.
Showing her keen interest in the game, she assured to consult the Sports Minister and the Union Minister of Sports to take up necessary steps to revive grasslands and pony farms and thereby increase the number of ponies in the State.
She also suggested a meeting for all the Polo Associations of the country to discuss issues on how to promote and ensure the survival of the game, which is known only to a specific group of people, as it is a game of the royalty.
Corporate people should be roped in to promote the game like in case of Cricket.
Financiers are also needed not only to promote the game but for survival of the players and the ponies, the Governor added.
She also handed over an amount of Rs 10,000 each to the two veteran players from the side of Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association, Manipur.