When Nameirakpam Kunjarani Devi, our own pint sized dynamo and one of the greatest women lifters the world has ever produced in this century, alighted from the aircraft along with other members of the victorious Indian contingent back from Manchester, the Union Sports Minister was present on the occasion to receive them at Delhi Palam airport.

A few kilometers down the road at 2-Sadar Patel Marg otherwise known as the Manipur Bhawan, around the same time huddled with his two trusted lieutenants, putting touches to the grand Online lottery Scheme for the welfare of Manipur was our Chief Minister. Little did the Chief Minister understand that his presence in the airport was indeed very important to the players?

The nation and many of her fans abroad had rejoiced when Kunjarani had ‘jerked and snatched’ three gold medals exorcising a ghost that had been haunting her since her exclusion from the Sydney Squad and later being told that she was banned from competition for six months.

Then came the repeat story of Sanamacha Chanu who further lifted India’s medal haul by adding three more gold medals to her own and India’s kitty.

There was also the famous Manipuri quartet of skipper Surjalata, veteran Tingong-leima, mercurial Sanggai and Pakpi of the Indian Women’s Hockey team that came back from the jaw of death only to clinch the coveted gold.

We also should not forget the lady, Brojeshowri who is keenly awaiting to switch into action with her favorite technique ‘Tomo-Nage’ one day, were also there at the 17th Commonwealth Games at Manchester to prove her point and superiority. That will speak though our State has been termed as a deficit beggar state in the eyes of the Reserve Bank of India is still a gold mine for Indian sports.

A long dedication and hard work from strength to strength made Assistant Commandant NK Devi and Sub-Inspector Sanamacha Chanu crore-patis overnight. They are also in a position to provide loans to the Ibobi Government so that hundred of State employees who idles their time away at offices and schools playing ludos, card games and knitting can get their salaries. And wait, our civil Secretariat employees who really know the value of money will be more than happy to get the pending salaries.

This means that our Manipuri sporting greats’ expectation was not money but a little recognition and respect. This could have been done easily by inviting them over for a cup of tea or presenting a bouquet of flowers by our Chief Minister while he was at Delhi. However this wasn’t happened.

True, the State is already under a dreaded financial crunch which might not have allowed the Chief Minister to move around lavishly as any other Chief Minister. However giving felicitation and according a warm welcome to our spirited players can’t be acknowledged through the power of money neither can it be measured in terms of cash.

The grapevine has it that while there was a dinner/party of Manipur cadre IAS officers at Delhi, these golden girls were instead summoned to Imphal at their own expenses for improving the image of their administration.

The hockey quartet ought to be congratulated for refusing the politically motivated rewards announced by the State Government. What is now required is for personalities like Kunjarani and Sanamacha to speak-out. Being in uniform, it is not expected from them to embarrass the Ibobi Government or the State administration.

But what they could do is to donate the reward announced by the State Government to their respective Association/club which had in the first case nurtured, protected and promoted from the local club to International arena.

Perhaps a Guru Dakshyana to the one who taught them the first lesson on how to grip an iron bar in weight lifting will be a great gesture too. This is the perfect ladder laid out for our budding players to come on the top.

As it were, the people of Manipur would expect much from our International sports stars that had brought laurels to the Nation and State that they have a sincere concern for other sportsperson in Manipur too. They should remember the meadow of the countryside where they have started learning their first lesson.

They should never despise the old Gym where they were being taught by the humble coach. While few lucky and hard-liners ones go high and mounted the international medal podiums yet a lot of players in the countryside are shedding tears in utmost distress.

This has to be kept in mind by those who had already availed of international exposure. Potentialities are there but poverty ceased the right of many of the inspiring and promising talents.

In a poor State like Manipur sportsmen always face hard realities and one who doesn’t know from where the next meal comes can’t afford much in sports. The story of Dingko who had a gala reception at Imphal following his Asiad triumph still inspires but this does not occur to all and perhaps happens in one among thousands.

Here all the Manipuri sporting greats in various disciplines should follow the footsteps of Mary Kom, that shy young tribal girl who has made it big in the international boxing ring who recently donated Rs 70,000 to the parent organization.

Somebody should also tell Aza our indigenous Sports Director that merely reproducing congratulatory letter from the printing machine to the Commonwealth games stars as advertisements in the local newspaper will not do.

Perhaps it is time for Manipur as a whole to digest the integrity of the Department of Youth Recourses and Sports and it is also time for all the sportsperson to reflect on the futility of expecting jobs in return for medals from the State Government.