THONGAM SUNI: A known Hockey player of Army Service Corps (South)
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 14, 2013: Manipur had a number of players who excelled in various games during their days, and whom the present generation owes much.

'ON THE GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS' reproduces here the sports profile of veteran player Thongam Suni from Ratneshwori Goswami's Akao Parei Chankhrabasing published in the Hueiyen Lanpao (Manipuri).

Sports journalists based in other states once wrote, "Th.Suni is a skillful player who can catch, strike and handle the ball consciously at the right moment.

He can swiftly manage his presence by running to-and-fro in the field.

He plays with brain." While serving in the Army, Thongam Suni played Hockey with confidence.

The achievements of this veteran player are being penned here after his demise 10 years ago.

Thongam Suni was born on 11 January 1940 at Keishamthong Top Leirak Imphal.

The fifth child of Thongam Angou and Leihao Devi, Suni had taken keen interests in games and sports since his childhood.

Initially a Football player, he became well adapted to Hockey.

His sports career brightened after he entered the Army Service Corps Centre in 1958.Suni began to participate in the Inter-Battalion Hockey matches in the Army.

The 19 year old player used to practice with the senior players of Army Corps centre which were trained by its Captain W.Diyas.

He got lots of improvements in Hockey with the support and encouragement of the Captain.

Suni also received training from the eminent coach VV Naidu.

By 1959, Thongam Suni who had all the skills of Hockey participated in the state league representing Army Service Corps.

While staying in Jhansi, he played for the ASC regiment in the Inter Formation Hockey Tournament in 1960 and won champions.

The same year, Suni also played under Khalsa Blue in the Dhyanchand Tournament.

In 1961, he participated in the sub area tournaments and in 1962, he became a player in ASC "B" team which won Bangalore University Sports Cup.

He was applauded by the national newspapers of the time when he performed excellently in the Maharaja Gold Cup held in Mysore where Hindustan Aircraft was drastically defeated.

He also took part in various Invitation Hockey tournaments held in Madras.

Th.Suni also participated in the 33rd National Hockey Championship in which Railways turned out champions and Mysore became the runners up.

Thongam Suni, after retiring from sports, became coach and an active organizer in various clubs.

He gave training to the players of Eastern Sporting Union and TRAU.

The veteran player breathed his last on 5th January 2003.The present generation of sports lovers in the state needs to trace the footprints of such veteran players whose names, otherwise, be lost from the memory of the posterity.

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