Oinam Nabachandra: One time Kabaddi and Volleyball player
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Seram Neken
Imphal, February 04 2014:
Volleyball was also a popular game in Manipur by the 1960s.Players hailing from Manipur joined Assam team to field in national championships.'ON THE GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS' reproduces here the sports profile of veteran player O.Nabachandra from Ratneshwori Goswami's Akao Parei Chankhrabasing published in the Huieyen Lanpao (Manipuri) .
Veteran Volleyball player Oinam Nabachandra is the son of Oinam Bapu and Irom Ningol Tharo Devi of Pishum Ningombam Leirak, Imphal.
He was a student of Churachand school where sports lovers Oja Chingakham Pishak, Oja Parijat and Oja Sougaijam Dhiren were the head master, second head master and games teacher respectively.
Nabachandra had also great attachment to Oja W.Kishore of Kha Imphal School during his studentship there.
Although his initial interest was in Kabaddi, Nabachandra later became a known Volleyball player.
In an interview, 70 year old Nabachandra said "Being a student of CC School, we used to practice Kabaddi at Manipur Rifles Ground for the School Autumn Meet".
He recounted that his first participation in the All India Inter School Meet was in Calcutta along with Kabaddi players such as Mr.Maipak, Pungdongbam Khamba, Karam Achou, Kesho from Singjamei, Nandalal from Kwakeithel, Senapati, Doren from Khurai and others.
He could not remember the year of participation.
Again in 1959, Nabachandra took part in the All India Inter School Meet held in Bombay as a Kabaddi player.
In the National Physical Efficiency Test in 1961-62, he got the 3-Star Merit certificate (Junior).
He was so enthusiastic in sports that he even failed to pass matriculation on time.
Although it was supposed to be completed by 1961, Nabachandra passed it as late as in 1966 and joined Manipur College where he became a good Volleyball player.
In the All Assam Inter District Tournament, he participated as a player of Manipur Volleyball Team.
Later he was also selected join the Assam team for taking part in the Inter District tournament.
Meanwhile, Nabachandra had the opportunity to participate in the one-month coaching held in Calcutta as an Assam player.
By 1967-68, he became an active Volleyball player as he took part in All Assam Inter District Volleyball tournament held in Naharaktia (Upper Assam) where Manipur retained the champion title.
Besides Nabachandra, the team led by Oja Birachandra comprised Deben, Tarakishore, Inao (Kongba) and Sanajaoba.
Later, Inao, Deben and Sanajaoba along with him were selected for joining Assam team in the 16th National Volleyball Championships from 28 December 1967 to 1st January 1968 in Calcutta.
According to the veteran player, some of the renowned Volleyball players of his time were Lourembam Ibotombi of SWCO, Oja Jugeshore of Chingamakha, Gouro Awangba of Singjamei Naorem leikai etc.
As a college student, he was actively involved in social activities too.
He was the Finance secretary of Manipur College Students' Union in 1969 and an activist in various student's movements during the chief minister ship of M.Koireng.
He was even jailed for 15 days in connection with the incidents on the visit of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
In 1973-74, he also served as the General Secretary of LMS Law College.
Nabachandra was also a cadet of NCC who served upto the level of Senior Under Officer.
Being the best NCC cadet, he demonstrated Bennett fighting shows in the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi and Guwahati.
Next to G.Churchil Sharma of Wangkhei Thangapat Mapal, he was the excellent cadet in Benett fighting.
Nabachandra who served as the Labour Officer cum Security Officer in the erstwhile Spinning Mills at Loitam Khunou expressed dismay over his unfruitful sporting career in life.
Blaming his fate, Nabachandra compared his life to those untapped flowers blooming in the remote hills.
During his hectic days, he devoted most of his life to sports particularly Kabaddi and Volleyball.
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