Sports persons demand facilities
- Hindustan Times -

Chetan Chauhan/ Hindustan Times : Imphal, April 11, 2011

Pushpa is just 12 and is part of Manipur's next generation of sporting powerhouse but her dream to be world champion like many other Manipuri sportsperson such as boxer M C Mary Kom, may get shattered because of inadequate facilities. "I want to be a champion, please help," she told sports minister Ajay Maken in Imphal on Tuesday. "There is no coach and sports equipment is very old."

Manipur with a population of less than 0.2 % of India 1.20 billion people was first among Indian states in the recently concluded National Games in Jharkhand. And, its representation in the Asian games was also impressive with three of its boxers winning bronze medals. Such a record also made Maken admit, "Future of Indian sports lies in Manipur".

Although Maken assured of all help from the Central government he was happily amazed to find enthusiasm for sports especially among girls. All the tough questions came from adolescent girls, which the minister complimented, was a good sign for the Indian sports.

Unofficially, sporting is the only activity for people to excel in this insurgent hit state. "Sports is in our culture," said a local coach with Sports Authority of India (SAI).