A. Helim Choudhury: The Lone Muslim Player Of His Days

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A Helim Choudhury: The Lone Muslim Player Of His Days :: Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao

According to veteran Hockey player A. Helim Choudhury, "being the descendants of the forefathers who dearly played "Khong Kangjei" as a popular game, Manipuris have the potential to excel in modern Hockey." Besides being an efficient administrator, he was also a successful Hockey player of his time. 'ON THE GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS' reproduces here the profile of this sports personality from Ratneshwori Goswami's Akao Parei Chankhrabasing published in the Huieyen Lanpao (Manipuri).

Born to A. Gyani Choudhry and Bibijan Bibi of Babupara in Imphal in 1928, the octogenarian A. Helim Choudhury, now retired Indian Administrative Officer started playing Hockey from his schooldays in Churachand High School, when he was in class IX under the guidance of school Games teacher Pulin Das. Although he took interests in both Football and Hockey games during the childhood, he had to switch on to Hockey as his collar bone was fractured in football playing.

On the wish of Maharaj Churachand Singh, a friendly Hockey match was played between the Maharaj Team and the erstwhile Town Club at the ground located at the south of the Palace. Helim Choudhury participated as a player. Except for some of the players such as Haridas, GA Tomchoubi and Ksh Ibohal Singh, the veteran player could hardly remember the names of other players of his time.

Helim keenly joined the Hockey matches of Beighton Cup in 1948 and 1949 as a player of Manipur Eleven Team. Beighton Cup was India's biggest Hockey tournament, the participation of which earned popularity to the then players. Helim Choudhury was by that time a popular Hockey player. Hockey was very popular by that time. Some of the who took part in the Beighton Cup at Calcutta along with Helim Choudhury were AK Manihar (Team Captain), P Lalmani, S. Chaosingh, Kh Nimai, K. Kunjo, A. Amuba, Prafullo, GA Tomchoubi, L. Kesho, RK Gandhisana etc. Ayekpam Biramangol was the team manager in that Cup.

According to this veteran player, Churachand Maharaj was not only an ardent promoter of Manipur sports movement but also a good player. The King appreciated the performance of Helim Choudhury, who was the lone player from the Muslim community at that time. Choudhury had also been blessed with the advices of sports promoters like Khomdram Biramangol, Nongmaithem Birendra Singh, Ayekpam Biramangol and Nongmaithem Rebati. But for the valuable contributions of such persons, Manipur sports would not be where it is today.

He completed Matriculation and IA from Calcutta University before studying BA at DM College as a second batch student of the college. Helim passed out graduation under the Guwahati University in 1952. He along with Advocate Rk Sanajaoba from Khangempalli went to study Law in Delhi. In 1954, he was selected as the Team captain of Delhi University Hockey team and his position was Right Full Back.

He joined service as SDC of Imphal after successfully passing the UPSC conducted examination in 1955. In 1957, he joined the Manipur Hockey team which emerged as team champion in the Inter District Hockey tournament held at Shillong. In 1959, Helim Choudhury again participated in the Inter-district Hockey tournament held in Silchar as Team captain and emerged victorious.

According to veteran Hockey player Helim Choudhury, modern Hockey was first introduced in the London Olympics in 1908. In 1928 Amsterdam Olympic games, India won Gold medal for the first time in Hockey by defeating Holand by 3-0. In 1932 again, Indian Hockey team registered another Gold medal. In 1936 Olympics, India defeated Germany by 8-1 goals and received Gold. From 1928 to 1965, India earned eight Gold medals in Olympic Hockey. However, Pakistan defeated India in Rome Olympics in 1960 by a solitary goal.

Again in Tokyo Games in 1964, India retained the Gold medal by defeating Pakistan by 10-1 goals. However, in 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games, India finished with only Bronze medals. In 1976 Montreal Olympics, India could manage at the seventh position, as the Indian players were not habituated to playing on the turfs. In 1980 Olympics, Indian team reemerged victorious by defeating Spain 4-3. In the following years, Indian Hockey gradually declined.

As Helim Choudhry narrated, Beighton Cup was first introduced in Calcutta in the year 1895. Meanwhile, Agha Khan Hockey Tournament was also started in Bombay. In 1903, Punjab University Sports Hockey Tournament began. The same year, Lahore Gymkhana started its first Open Hockey Tournament. Bengal Hockey Association formed in 1908. In 1925, the Indian Hockey Federation was constituted with Bruce Turnbul as President and NS Ansari as Secretary. Its first headquarters was at Gwalior.

Helim Choudhury, was not only a renowned administrator among the Muslim community, but also a good player and promoter of sports in Manipur. The octogenarian sportsperson always stresses on the need for discipline and perseverance among today's players of Manipur. He strongly believes that Manipur will increasingly produce successful international Hockey players in future, as our forefathers had already embraced Khong Kangjei as most popular indigenous game.

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