Imphal, Jan 13: Manipur’s Lawn Bowls team which had won medals at the previous National Games in Goa, has started to prepare for the 38th National Games to be held in Uttarakhand from January 28 to February 14, 2025.
“We’ve started our practice sessions at the Hockey AstroTurf (Khuman Lampak) as we didn’t have our own playfield so as to win more medals in the upcoming national games,” said state bowling coach Yambem Somo Singh. “This time altogether 12 players, six men and six women, have qualified for the games.”
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Apart from state coach Somo, Dr M Manimohan Meetei has been selected as Manipur team manager for the men’s team, while Ashish Hanjabam for the women’s team.
The qualified state players will compete in four categories– single, pair, triple and four– of this interesting sports discipline.
The qualified men players are Pravesh Kumar Salam, Kongkham Hemandro, Moirangthem Mangalleiba, Mohd Zane Khan, Mohd Aftaf Ahmad Khan and Yambem Tomthin Khuman, while the women players are Chongtham Keilyani Chanu, Ningthoujam Basumati Devi, Sandham Manitombi, Chingkham Surbala Devi, Mutum Surmala Chanu and Gaijilu Golmei, according to an office memorandum issued by Manipur Bowling Association secretary Angom Johnson Singh.
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The players and coaches of Manipur Bowling Association are dreaming of a 45X45 playfield of their own for regular practice and coaching sessions round the year instead of using playfields of different sports disciplines all the time.
At the recently concluded 9th National Lawn Bowls Championship and 5th Under 25 National Lawn Bowls Championship 2024 held from December 25, 2024 to January 2, 2025 in New Delhi, the state bowling players displayed a wonderful performance. Woman player Chingkham Surbala Devi had also won a bronze medal in women’s single event.
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At the 37th National Games held in Goa too, state players namely Pravesh Kumar Salam and Mohd Aftaf Ahmad Khan bagged a bronze medal in Men Pairs competition.
Manipur players began to play this sports discipline and participated in the National Games held in Kerala in 2015.
(Newmai News Network)