Golfer Zai's 3rd death anniversary observed
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 19 2016:
Games and sports in Sadar
Hills today witnessed one of
the most significant events of
its kind during a football clinic
held at Haipi village to
commemorate the 3rd death
anniversary of famous golfer,
Zai Kipgen.
The trust in collaboration
with Haipi Youth Club con-
ducted a football clinic at his
native village in Haipi, Sadar
Hills where more than 15
ISL players from the State
cheerfully attended the ob-
servation by participating in
a friendly football match with
Haipi Youth Club at Haipi
playground.
Featuring top ISL players
from the State like Sushil,
Naoba, Jackie Chan,
Subhash of Mumbai FC;
Reagan and Satyasen of
North East United;
Gouramangi of FC Pune
City; Milan of Delhi Dyna-
mos; Romaria and
Surchandra of DSK Pune;
Lolendro Singh former
Mohun Began captain;
Dharamjit of Mohun Began;
Johnson of Moirang FC and
guest player Romi Meetei a
renowned film maker and led
by coach Bijen the ISL team
won the friendly match by a
margin of 5 goals to two
against Haipi Youth Club.
Sushil and Subhash
scored a double each while
Jackie Chan contributed one
for the ISL team while Haipi
Youth Club witnessed their
goals through Lamminlen
and Thangngunglen.
Ex-MLA and the current
president of NPP Manipur
Unit, Thangminlen Kipgen,
who is also the grandfather
of Zai, hosted a grand feast
at his Haipi residence.
It may be mentioned that,
Golfer Zai was identified as
a huge talent in his early
teens.
He was ranked India's
No 1 in the 13-17 category.
He became one of the
youngest winners of the
Hero Honda Tour at the age
of 21 and at 22 he won the
Hyundai-MGC Open in
Chennai in 2001. In 2005,
Zai began coaching at Delhi
Golf Club (DGC).
Zai suffered a cardiac ar-
rest and passed away on July
19, 2013 at his Delhi resi-
dence at the age of 32 .