Manipur Sangai Festival : Indigenous Games begins at Khuman Lampak
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 22 2017:
Indigenous Games and Martial Arts Exhibition organised by Meitei Ipa Ipu Salai Inaat Khongul Liba Lup (MISIKHOLL) kicked off today at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex.
The Indigenous Games and Martial Arts Exhibition is being organised as a part of the Manipur Sangai Festival 2017 under the aegis of Department of Youth Affairs and Sports.
The opening ceremony of the event was graced by Y Khemchand, Speaker, Manipur Legislative Assembly, N Praveen, Director Youth Affairs and Sports and I Samarendra, president MISIKHOLL as dignitaries.
A Thang-ta show performed by volunteers of MISIKHOLL marked the opening ceremony of the indigenous games which include Mukna, Khong Kangjei and Yubi Lakpi.
Thoubal beat Imphal East 4-0 in the quarter final match and entered semi-final of Khong Kangjei Event.
In one the semi-final match, Kakching team de-
feated Bishnupur 12-8 to cruise into final.
In the semifinal match between Thoubal and Imphal West, the latter secured a 7-1 victory and entered the final to meet Kakching.
In the final match, Kakching beat Imphal West to claim the title of the event.
Though the indigenous games began as a part of this year's Sangai festival, the day saw a poor turnout at the venue which indicated lack of publicity.
At the same time the winners team or individuals in each discipline were not even provided the prizes or any incentive after the end of the games.
The participants were only provided Rs 500 each as travelling allowance.
Above that, the players were left to play in the filthy grounds without any medical team.
Many of the participants were of the view that the said event was not organised in the motive to preserve and promote the indigenous games but were to humiliate the indigenous games which have been inseparable parts of the tradition since time immemorial.