Hockey Manipur seeks MOA affiliation
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 18 2025: Hockey Manipur has urged the Manipur Olympic Association (MOA) to grant it official affiliation, to aid resume full activities for the sport after more than 15 years of internal disputes that have largely obstructed hockey development in the state.

"After more than 15 years of dispute over the emergence of two associations for hockey in the state, Manipur Hockey now seeks to take up all the activities related to the game but unable to do so till date due to non-affiliation by the MOA, " stated Hockey Manipur secretary Thoidingjam Manihar, while addressing media persons at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex on Monday.

Hockey Manipur seeks MOA affiliation

Th Manihar related that many sports are played in Manipur but the first Olympian from the state and the entire North East region was from hockey.

However, progress in activities related to hockey game has been severely hampered due to emergence of two associations and the resulting contentions.

In line with the Indian Olympic Association's 'one game, one association' policy, Manipur Women Hockey Association and Manipur Hockey Association were merged on June 29, 2009 after more than 50 years of dedication to the game.

However, a former Olympian and his followers/ associates in collusion with some officials of MOA suddenly announced formation of Manipur Hockey on August 8, 2009, leading to intense conflict/contentions between Manipur Hockey and Hockey Manipur with settlement of a case over the dispute left pending at the Gauhati High Court for more than 15 years.

With the establishment of Manipur High Court, a single bench heard the case and ruled in favour of Hockey Manipur on August 20, 2022 .

As per directive of the Supreme Court, Hockey Manipur also moved an appeal at Gauhati High Court with a double bench of the same court also ruling in favour of Hockey Manipur on August 24, 2024 .

Following the directive of the court, registrar of cooperative societies Manipur cancelled registration of Manipur Hockey while terming the association illegal.

Despite the cancellation of the registration by registrar of cooperative societies Manipur, MOA is yet to de-affiliate Manipur Hockey, Manihar said and appealed to MOA to recognise Hockey Manipur as the bonafide association for hockey in the state and approach Hockey India for affiliation.