Manipur Amateur Muay Thai Assn team return with rich haul of 35 medals
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 01 2024: Manipur Amateur Muay Thai Association team returned home from the 4th Muay Thai Amateur National Championship 2024 with rich haul of 35 medals including 28 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze medals today.

The 40-member team comprising 5 officials and 35 athletes were accorded a warm reception upon their return at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport by the Manipur Amateur Muay Thai Association this afternoon.

The championship was held from November 28 to 30 at Siri Fort Sports Complex, New Delhi.

Speaking on the sidelines of the reception programme, president of the Manipur Amateur Muay Thai Association TM Rajen Ayangbam said that the discipline (Muay Thai) is on the brink of becoming an Olympic sport.

If the discipline officially becomes an Olympic sport, Manipur players will surely occupy a major portion in the Indian team and give medal winning performances.

State players are well suited to the discipline and if they are well taught from the grassroots level, Manipur can surely produce world class players, he observed.

The rich medal haul came despite the absence of proper infrastructure, equipment and incentives from the State Government, he said while drawing attention of the State Government to assist the association and the players as done in other States across the country.

Manipur Amateur Muay Thai Association's general secretary Md Rafi, who also led the State team as the team manager, meanwhile maintained that Manipur topped the medal tally in the championship that was participated by players from 13 States.

However, as per the decision of the Muay Thai Federation of India, overall champions and other categories were not formally declared, he said.

Usham Shantikumar, who was among the State team officials, meanwhile maintained that the Government is "yet to clear fees" to the State players who joined Muay Thai team from Thailand in a demonstration held during the Manipur Sangai Festival 2022 and urged the authorities concerned to kindly clear the dues at the earliest.

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