Arambam Tombimacha: Woman cycling champion in 1959 Manipur State Games

Seram Neken *

Arambam Tombimacha :: Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao

Women of Manipur who had indulged in various adventurous indigenous games found it easy to embrace any of the modern sports events. ‘ON THE GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS’ reproduces here the sports profile of veteran player A. Tombimacha from Ratneshwori Goswami’s Akao Parei Chankhrabasing published in the Huieyen Lanpao (Manipuri).

Arambam Tombimacha, a known cyclist of 1950s, was born to Arambam Gulap and Pishak Devi of Naharup Mayai Leikai in March 1952. From the very childhood, she was well adapted to indigenous games such as Phibul Habi, Awa Sagol Tongbi and Khela Thugaibi. Besides cycling, she came to embrace race, Hockey, Kho Kho etc.

Tombimacha became the first girl from Naharup to play games along with boys of the time. In an interview, she said that she used a modified bicycle for riding in race. One of her uncles, Arambam Tomba who worked in the palace during those days instigated and encouraged her to get into sports.

Tombimacha studied from class I to class III at Naharup Mayai Leikai LP School and later at Anand Singh Academy where she had the opportunity to embrace more games. She participated in Inter School Games in various events such as race, cycle race, Kho Kho and Hockey. She could remember one senior woman cyclist of her time namely Ibemhal Devi.

Tombimacha was also a player of Eastern Sporting Union, the Hockey players of which included Loitam Bino, Phajabi, Tarubi etc. The other Kho Kho players of Anand Singh Academy, as she could recollect, were Dhamabati, Susila, Roma etc.

Having a physically fit and active body, she from the very beginning wanted to play various games along with male counterparts of the locality. Arambam Tombimacha played for schools upto class X and she also went to Mumbai National School Games in 1959 as a Kho Kho player. Renowned singer Ojah Chandrakala led the women team. Ojah Bilashini from Khongman was also team leader at various sports tour to outside Manipur. Tombimacha could not remember the exact position her team earned during the Mumbai games.

At various State Games, she could win prizes in cycling. Her hectic time in sports was from 1958 to 1960. In 1959, she became state champion of Manipur State games in cycling. Her performances were without any coach and proper guide. She also played Hockey with the bamboo-made stick under the Eastern Sporting Union which had a number of known male players.

Arambam Tombimacha :: Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao

The strong women Hockey teams during those days were Yaiskul Team, Khwai Team and Eastern Sporting Union. Women Hockey appeared in Manipur with some enthusiastic students of Tamphasana School beginning to play Hockey.

While she was in class X, she was engaged and married as the daughter in law of Nongmaithem Rebati of Moirangkhom Bazar, who was well known as a sportsperson. After marriage, she appeared matriculation examination at Tamphasana Girls School and from 1960 she became an Assistant teacher of Naharup Mayai Leikai LP School. Later, she was transferred to Girls LP School at Moirangkhom, from where she got retirement in the year 2000.

From 1982, Tombimacha participated in the sports as a veteran player. The same year, she joined the Singapore trip along with N. Momon and H. Jamuna. Tombimacha earned three Silver medals while the other two got three Gold medals in Javelin, Discus throw and Shot Put events.

The veteran player who still has the spirit of games expressed dissatisfaction over the frequent leadership crises in the present day sports organizations of Manipur. She lamented the lack of sincerity and sacrifice in most of the sports managers of today as compared to those of her time.

For feedbacks email to: nekenseram(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)in