17th Governor's Cup Taekwondo : UTA become overall team champions for record 17 times
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 30 2023:
Games and sports inculcate discipline and patriotism : Governor

Union Taekwondo Academy (UTA), Yumnam Leikai have retained the overall team title in the 17th Governor's Taekwondo Cup organised by the All Manipur Taekwondo Association at Indoor Stadium, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex since April 27 .

UTA, who secured the highest 5502 points courtesy 26 gold, 24 silver and 87 bronze medals this year, have extended their record haul of the overall title in all the editions of the championship as Pakhangba Taekwondo Academy finished runners up with 2498 points and National Sports Academy settled for the second runners up spot with 2321 points.

Attending the closing ceremony, Governor Anusuiya Uikey has said that the purpose of games and sports is primarily to inculcate the ideas of discipline, orderliness, team spirit, leadership qualities and patriotism in young minds.

17th Governor's Cup Taekwondo

The Governor said, if the youth are properly associated with sports, they will use their sporting qualities in their daily lives which will make our nation vibrant.

She said, Manipur has a rich heritage of martial arts like Thang-Ta which is an important component of the culture of the people.

Manipuri Martial arts have been a distinctive feature of the State's history and civilization.

She continued that Taekwondo is a sport discipline and a form of self-defence using bare hands and feet.

It has become one of the most popular sports in the world and is played by more than 40 million people from more than 142 countries in the world.

This game is becoming popular in the State and has also produced many talented players, she said.

Different forms of Taekwondo are practiced in the world today for fitness, entertainment and self-defence.

This allows the age old tradition to survive in this highly competitive modern world, she noted.

Acknowledging the contribution of the youth of the State in the field of sports, Governor said, many players of Manipur are playing in different disciplines of sports representing India and they are bringing laurels to the Nation.

She said, "We all are proud of them and hope that they will bring fame in future too." The Governor thanked the players, officials and organisers of the tournament and wished them for success in their future endeavours.

She also handed over the overall team champion 2023 trophy to Union Taekwondo Academy, Yumnam Leikai.

Th Satyabrata, Speaker, Manipur Legislative Assembly; Konkham Robindro, Chairman, MANIDCO also attended the ceremony.

Bobby Waikhom, President, All Manipur Taekwondo Association handed over cash incentives to the winning teams of 16 th Governor's Taekwondo Cup, 2022, during the ceremony.

(With inputs from PRO Rajbhavan) .