Manipur Judo Association accords warm reception to Olympian L Sushila
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 27 2021:
Manipur Judo Association today accorded warm reception to Likmabam Sushila who was the lone judoka in the Indian contingent at the recently concluded Tokyo Olympic Games 2020.The reception programme of the Olympian who participated in the 48 kg women's judo event was organised at the office of the Manipur Judo Association inside the Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium.
The programme was attended by association president, Dr Kh Ratankumar; vice president S, Chaoba Singh; vice president, L Tarpon; working chairman, Bijoy Koijam; judo coach to groomed Sushila, Deben Moirangthem, other association officials and sports enthusiasts.
Speaking at the occasion, Manipur Judo Association's working president Bijoy Koijam expressed discontent over partial treatments to sports disciplines by the State Government and the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Stressing on revamping sports policy in the State, he derides the State Government's desperation to see high performing players without nurturing the players from the grassroots level.
He also expressed that more remarkable players will emerge if the State Government starts giving equal thrust to all sports disciplines.
Questioning when has the State Government given attention in grooming and nurturing players when needed earlier, he said that it is very unfortunate on the State Government to jump into celebration and claim credit only after players mark in the National and international arenas.
Urging the State Government to acknowledge the hardships players have to endure till they create a niche of themselves or qualify for big international events like Olympics, Bijoy also requested the State Government not only to appreciate or award incentives to the players after they bring laurels to the State but also to assist in nurturing them right from grassroots level so that the State could produce hundreds of Olympians each time.
S Indrakumar, who is the secretary of Manipur Judo Association, elucidated the struggles of Judoka Likmabam Sushila in detail on the occasion and decried Government's lack of attention towards the Judo discipline even as the State has so far produced three judo Olympians including Sushila in a very short duration.
He maintained that there is no proper training ground for judo in the State and it has been the association's long standing dream to have a 'Judo Dozo' in the State.
Impressed by State judokas at the National and international level, many visitors from other Indian States had visited Manipur to study where actually the players are trained but they all had to return awestruck as they find no proper training place, he said and continued that a proposal for construction of a dozo will soon be placed before the Youth Affairs and Sports Department very soon.
Kh Ratankumar, who was presiding the function, also praised Likmabam Sushila for making it to the sporting extravaganza and over her performance at the event.
Assuring that Manipur Judo Association will assist her in all possible ways, he also encouraged Sushila to train harder and shine at the next summer Olympics to be held in Paris in 2024 .
The reception programme was also attended by the spouse of judo coach 'Oja Chandra' who is known as the father of Judo in Manipur, K Ibemhal who also presented gifts to Olympian Likmabam Sushila and coach Deben Moirangthem.
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