Koijam Kesho Singh : 'Players of our time were like the Eklavaiya of Mahabharata'

Seram Neken *

Koijam Kesho Singh :: Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao

In the 1950's and 1960's period, innumerable sportspersons appeared in the nook and corner of Manipur. They played in various disciplines without any coach and equipment. They had also the skills in more than one events. Yet, their achievements were exceptional as compared to the present players who are well equipped with trainers, stadia and apparatuses. This column explores the contributions made by these unsung sportspersons in the past. 'ON THE GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS' reproduces here the profile of Koijam Kesho Singh from Ratneshwori Goswami's Akao Parei Chankhrabasing published in the Huieyen Lanpao (Manipuri).

All rounder veteran player Koijam Kesho Singh was born in January 1938 at Singjamei Mayengbam Leikai Imphal. He is the lone son of late Koijam Shyama Singh and Leishangthem Ningol Koijam Ongbi Ibempishak Devi. Passed Matriculation in 1953, Kesho had a healthy body quite in shape to play various games. From the very young age, he started taking part in game shows like Man Onbi, Waa Kabi, Horizontal Bar and Parallel Bar at Imphal Pologround. He learnt various such techniques from the books and pictures published outside the state.

During the childhood, he was interested in indigenous athletic games such as Uraobi Tannaba, U Kaabi, Man Onbi Tannaba etc. As a student of Singjamei Boys School (Ch. Iboyaima School), Kesho habituated himself into formal sports events like High Jump, Hammer Throw, Pole Vault, Javelin, Shot Put, Gymnastics and Discus throw. In team sports, Kabaddi was his choice during schooldays. By that time, there was not any trained coach, the absence of which was lamented by the veteran player as a challenge to his better performance in various disciplines. By that time, charmed by the personalities of famous sports-stars, Kesho purchased posters of famous sportspersons and decorated them in albums.

In the State Games held in 1959, three players namely Koijam Kesho, O. Jayenta and Krishnakumar could jump over 5 feet 6 inches, while Leishangthem Ajit and Juge could cross over 5 feet 2 inches. All the five players were on the victory stand, with Jayenta in first position, Kesho himself and Krishnakumar in second position, with Ajit and Juge in third positions.

In the All India School Games held at Sadar Ballabhai Patel Stadium in Mumbai in the year 1959, Kesho Singh participated in Kabaddi as team captain along with players namely O. Naba of Pishum, Nandalal and Senapati of Kwakeithel, P. Achou, Doren from Khurai, Naba (a junior one) etc. In spite of having strong bodies, Manipur Kabbadi team could not achieve positions only due to lack of training. He also took part in High Jump event of the Games.

He also joined the School Games held in Trivandrum, Kerala in 1960-61as a player of Imphal Sporting Club. Kesho was the captain of Kabaddi team of Imphal Sporting Club from 1959 to 1964. Some of the sports clubs other than Imphal Sporting Club during his time were TRAU, NACO, Yaiskul Athletics Club, Eastern Sporting Union, USA, SWC (Hiyangthang) etc. As recalled by Kesho, his sporting colleagues were Mister Manipur Maipak Singh, former minister Moirangthem Kumar, Laishram Tondonba, Akoijam Tarakishore etc. who were intimate friends and well respected among one another.

Lack of techniques due to want of training was a big hurdle during competitions with players of other states. Before Manipur was granted statehood, our players represented Assam state and they were subjugated by the Bengal state on many occasions. As Kesho said, 'but for the discriminations of the authorities, Mr. Maipak could have achieved the Mr. India position earlier'. Maipak had to be suppressed for long as Mantosh Roy was trying to put up his son for Mr. India crown. Although Maipak was quite fit by 1959, his achievements came afterwards when he got four children.

By 1962, an Athletics training camp was held in the Assam Rifles complex at Kangla, where Mr. Balbir, a coach from Uttar Pradesh gave training to around ten players including Shri Kesho for around a month. Charlie Jinkin, the Gold medalist in 400 meter run in Melbourne Olympics happened to come to Manipur during that time. While giving training to the players, he encouraged Kesho Singh to take part in 400 meter run.

Kesho participated in numerous inter-school events around the country under the guidance of Ojah Modhu, who was the main arranger for various sports disciplines. As there was no trained coach, he entrusted some skilled players to be the coach for the events. Ojah Modhu always led the sports teams to outside Manipur. The then Chief Commissioner of Manipur GM Raina was also a sports lover.

Koijam Kesho along with H. Abung (of Imphal Sporting Club), Khangembam Joy and M. Kunjabi (both of NACO Nambul Mapal) were instrumental in the formation of Southern Sporting Union, Singjamei in 1960. Since then, SSU started taking part regularly in the State Games thereby winning prizes in athletic events. Kesho Singh could also register achievements for SSU in Javelin, Hammer throw, High Jump, Long Jump and Kabaddi. In 1972, Kesho as instigated by Ojah Modhu was part of the Manipur team in the 21st National Championship at Raja Bhalendra Singh Stadium in Rajasthan. Kesho was the captain of the team, which was managed late Ojah Jugindro of DM College.

After a brief break, Kesho who was also an employee of the Electricity Department re-entered sports as a veteran player in 1982 and has been unceasingly playing till today. Koijam Kesho Singh, won fourth position in the Asian veteran Athletics championship cum 4th National Meet held from 18th to 20th March 1983. He emerged second positions in High Jump and Hammer throw events in the 5th National Athletics Meet at Bangalore organized by the All India Veteran Athletics Association from 27th to 28th August.

In the 6th veteran Athletics championship held during 7-9 September 1984 at Lal Bahadur Stadium, Hyderabad, he again got second position in Hammer Throw. As a veteran player, he also went to participate in championships held at Chennai, Kurukhetra, Hisar, Haryana, Bhiwani, Pondicherry, Chandigarh, Kashmir, Guwahati, Kolkata etc. He got first in High Jump in the 55 years category in the Asian Veteran Track and Field Meet held in February 1996 at Kolkata Salt Lake Stadium.

On 15th and 16th October 1988, he participated in the International Veteran Track and Field Meet in Hong Kong, where he took part in six events by paying 10 dollars for each game and got positions in the Pole Vault, High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Hammer Throw, Disc and Shot Put. Even at the age of 75 now, Koijam Kesho Singh still has the sporting strength and spirit to be in the field.

(for feedbacks email to: [email protected])