16th Governor's Taekwondo Cup kicks off at Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, May 12 2022: Governor of Manipur La Ganesan opened the 16th Governor's Taekwondo Cup tournament at Indoor Stadium, Khuman Lampak, on Thursday.

The opening ceremony was organised by All Manipur Taekwondo Association.

Addressing the gathering as chief guest, La Ganesan said, "Taekwondo is the way of the foot and fist, a form of self-defending with only bare hands and feet.

No weapons are ever used in Taekwondo" .

The governor further said that the game of Taekwondo dates back over 2000 years and it has become one of the most popular sports in the world in which more than 40 million people from more than 142 countries in the world participated in Taekwondo games.

In 2000, the game was introduced as an official Olympic event at the Sydney Australia Olympic Games.

He continued that Manipur has rich heritage of martial arts like Thang-Ta (sword & spear) that has constituted a significant component of the culture of the people and Manipuri martial arts have been a characteristic attribute of the history and civilization of the state.

La Ganesan then said that the aims and object of sports and games, as part of bring ing glory and laurels for the country, are to instil the idea of discipline, orderliness, team spirit, qualities of leadership and patriotism.

If youths are associated with games and sports which will in turn makes our nation a powerful one, he opined.

The governor expressed his hope that the tournament will help in studying philosophy in finding out the requirements for further development of art.

Efforts made by All Manipur Taekwondo Association deserved encouragement and support will help in popularizing and promoting Taekwondo in the state, he added.

He also congratulated the players who won the match and encouraged the losers not to get disheartened.

Heikham Dingo Singh, minister of Social Welfare Skill, Labour & Employments Entrepreneurship and Fisheries, also attended the occasion as functional president and addressed the gathering.

International player Nongdairel Khaba and Priyadhashini led the oath-taking by the players.

Two minutes silence was observed to paid respect to the expired founder members of Taekwondo of Manipur.

The Taekwondo tournament which started on Thursday will continue till May 15, 2022 and there will be around 80 matches during the four-day event.

630 players, including 218 girls and 412 boys, from 26 units of All Manipur Taekwondo Association are vying for medals.

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