Chief Minister opens "Martial Arts Meet"
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, January 18 2020: Chief Minister N Biren Singh opened the 1st Chief Minister's Indigenous Martial Arts (Thang-Ta/Cheibi) Meet, 2020 at Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium today.

Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar, Works Minister Th Biswajit, CAF & PD Minister Karam Shyam, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Letpao Haokip, Agriculture Minister V Hangkhanlian, Social Welfare Minister Nemcha Kipgen and Titular King of Manipur, Leishemba Sanajaoba also attended the opening function as dignitaries.

Around 1500 participants representing 43 different associations are vying for a total of 159 medals in the competition which will continue till January 22 .

Out of these 159 medals, 135 (45-gold, 45-silver and 45 bronze) medals will be in the Thang-Ta events for various age groups while 24 medals (6-gold, 6-silver and 12 bronze) will for allotted for Cheibi Yendamnaba events.

The Thang-ta competition will comprise of "Ta-Khousaba", "Thang-Chungoi Marol", "Thang-Ta Chainaba", " Leiteng Haiba", "Sarit Sarak" and " Shajel Kanglon" events.

Cash prizes and medals consisting of Rs 15,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5000 would be given to gold, silver and bronze medal winners respectively.

The overall team champion, the overall team runner up and the overall team third place would receive cash prizes of Rs 1 (one) lakh, Rs 70,000 and Rs 50,000 with trophies respectively.

The best disciplined team, the overall boys team champion and the overall girls team champion will also be awarded Rs 20,000 each.

Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, N Biren Singh said that Thang-Ta played a vital role in protecting Manipur from invaders in its 2000 years of civilization.

However, it apparently had lost its essence in the past few decades, he opined.

As such, the State Government has been actively exploring means to revive the age-old art form, the Chief Minister said.

After a series of meetings and consultations, the State Government decided to organise a martial arts championship as a calendar event every year towards this end, he informed.

The Chief Minister said that the Government's intention is to encourage the youth and children to learn martial arts so that they stay away from drugs and intoxicants.

It would also help not only in building a healthy society but also in inculcating discipline among them, he opined.

The Chief Minister also expressed his desire to set up martial arts learning centres in every village of the State so that different martial art forms including those of hill areas can be popularised in every nook and corner of Manipur.

Informing that 43 different associations are taking part in the competition, the Chief Minister urged the organiser to put in more effort to two-fold increase the figure in the next year's championship.

Stating that the present Government takes the task of popularising martial arts is of prime importance, the Chief Minister also urged the public to join hands in this regard.

He further opined that there is need to forget personal ambitions to achieve a collective goal.

In his speech, YAS Minister Letpao Haokip said that the present generation should leave no stone unturned in preserving the old indigenous games, which are the important components of Manipur's culture.

He said that the Chief Minister's Indigenous Martial Arts Meet is the brainchild of the Chief Minister, N Biren Singh.

He also added that the Government would consider to include different indigenous games of hill areas as well in the next year's championship.

MLAs, Government officials and Thang-Ta Gurus were also present at the function.

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