A successful Badminton player of Manipur during 1950's: Ahanthem Hemchand
On the Golden Footprints-10
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Seram Neken

Imphal, November 10 2013: Manipur is suitable place for all types of games.

Some of the Manipuri youths dearly played Badminton during the 1950s and 1060s.Earning laurels for Manipur, they added this place in the sports map of the country.

Ahanthem Hemchand is one of the Badminton players of the time who represented Manipur in various tournaments.

'ON THE GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS' reproduces here the profile of Ahanthem Hemchand from Ratneshwori Goswami's Akao Parei Chankhrabasing published in the Huieyen Lanpao (Manipuri) .

I take the opportunity to wish a Happy Birthday to Shri Ahanthem Hemchand on his 73rd Birth Anniversary today.

On this very day, the 11th November in 1940, Ahanthem Hemchand was born as the fourth child of Ahanthem Yaima and Maisnam Ningol Ahanthem Ongbi Angoubi Devi of Keishamthong Ahanthem Leikai, Imphal.

From the very childhood, he took keen and equal interests in both studies and sports.

Being a man of integrity, he has a straight forward and disciplined character.

Hemchand started his schooling at Elangbam Leikai School and from class VII onwards, he studied at Johnston school where his sports career was suddenly brightened up.

He began to play Badminton more attentively in the school.

Although he became the General Secretary of Johnston school students union in 1957, he did not lag behind in studies.

During his schooldays, Johnston school had a Badminton Court constructed by deforming a portion of the Science Block.

The students used to practice at the Court without having an instructor or a coach.

They had to learn from the senior players.

For Hemchand, participation in the Manipur State Games began by the year 1956.He represented Manipur in badminton at the All Assam Inter-district Tournament held at Tejpur in 1957 .

As recounted by the veteran player, he appeared the Matric examination which was held on 24th November 1958 without sitting for the test.

As he was to participate in the All Assam Inter-district tournament, he could not take part in the test.

The teachers at the school agreed to his request for participation in the tournament in spite of the scheduled test.

The then headmaster Oja Kalachand Sastri and Assistant Master Oja Nabakanta were very kind to him, as he was an obedient and bright student of the school.

During the tournament, Hemchand was adjudged as the Triple Crown title, by winning first in the Boys Singles, Men's Singles and Men's Doubles in Badminton.

This was the happiest moment in his life, as stated by the Ex-Air Force Officer.

He remembered that RK Naba was his double's partner during the tournament.

In the men's Singles, Hemchand had to play against Assam number one player Arundeva.

During his days, some of his keenly contested contemporary players were Ch.

Syamcharan and RK Naba, while his senior Badminton players included Sougaijam Lalit, Dr..PKumud, S.Priyokumar, Th.Bira Singh, L.Jogamani, Dharamchand Jain, Gyanchand Patni and G.Tunan.

In 1959, he along with his double partner Dr..PKumud, went to Dibrugarh to take part in Inter-district tournament where the duo earned the Runners up title.

Hemchand also earned the champions in men's single in the 6th Inter College Sports Festival held at Jhalukbari in Assam in 1960. Again in 1959, he became the team captain of Assam Team in Jamshedpur tournament.

From 1953 to 1961, Ahanthem Hemchand was the Secretary of Badminton Association and RK Mangisana, father of his friend RK Naba was the President.

The contemporary sports organizers often forget this fact and their names are not even included in the publication of souvenirs on many occasions.

Although he wanted to become an engineer, Hemchand joined the Air Force in 1962.He appeared the recruitment examination for the Air Force at Shillong, where around 4000 candidates applied for the 83 posts to be filled up.

In that UPSC conducted examination, he along with Arambam Pradip (Ex Deputy Inspector General of Police) sat for the examination.

Hemchand became the first Navigator from Manipur just as pilot Biren of Manipur was the first pilot from the state.

Since his schooldays, Hemchand did not approve of corruption and bribery.

After serving 25 years in the Indian Air Force, the veteran player of the state got voluntary retirement in 1987.In Manipur, he also served as Ex-service man in NCC Air Wing for some time.

In political arena, Ahanthem Hemchand also contested the assembly elections in Keishanthong Assembly Constituency.

Today, he is still healthy and smart in his mid-seventies.

Hemchand also writes sports articles in the Hueiyen Lanpao Daily occasionally.

The contemporary Manipur society particularly the sports enthusiasts of the state must remember such successful players of the yore who pioneered the sports movement in the state.

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