Ukhrul, Jan 7: The Manipur men’s hockey team has qualified for the first time in the history of the National Games while the women’s hockey team qualifies after a gap of 24 years for the upcoming 38th National Games at Haridwar in Uttarakhand from Jan 28 to Feb 14 this year. This was announced by the Manipur Olympics Association today.
Manipur men’s hockey team participated as a host team in the 1999 National Games while the women’s team took part in the National Games for the last time in 2001 in Ludhiana, it said.
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“We’re so happy to hear that both our men and women (hockey)teams have qualified and are playing for the National Games after a long gap,” Joint Secretary and Chairman of Media Committee N Ibungochoubi of Manipur Olympic Association said. “We wish both the teams who will represent the state at the National Games all the best and we have the confidence that they’ll bring glory for the state,” he added.
Despite having several well-known hockey players in the national and international arenas, the state’s hockey players could not play at the National Games for various reasons, it stated. It also mentioned that among the 19 Olympians, the state has produced since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Hockey has the maximum number of Olympians and named them as P Nilakomol (Los Angeles 1984), Ksh Thoiba (Seoul 1988), Kh Kothajit (London 2012), K Chinglensana (Brazil 2016), Sh Nilakanta (Tokyo 2016), Th Anuradha (Brazil 2016), and P Sushila (Brazil 2016).
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“Our state has good (hockey) players but most of them are stationed at different academies and national camps most of the time. But this time we had good timing for regrouping and played well in the recently concluded senior national championship.” Hockey Olympian Ksh Thoiba Singh reportedly said when sought for his comment on the qualification of state hockey teams for the National Games.
Thoiba Singh who played for the Indian team in the Seoul Olympics in 1988 also reportedly suggested that the state players who represent the National Games this time should prepare for maximum men-to-men marking to overcome the new game rules when they play big teams.
The state hockey team’s position has improved tremendously in recent years. The men’s team had even defeated Punjab in the senior national tourney in November last year, the statement added.
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“The youths of Manipur can easily excel in the sports field particularly Hockey provided they are given enough training, equipment, and guidance. Investments in Hockey will score dividends in Manipur, ” writes Seram Neken, a key functionary of Manipur Hockey in one of his write-ups “Hockey in Manipur-Past & Present”.
Moreover, the association informed that regular coaching sessions for men’s and women’s hockey teams are underway at Khuman Lampak Astro Turf Hockey Stadium and Takyel SAI Astro Turf since the second and third weeks of December last year.
The selection trials for the Manipur men’s and women’s hockey teams, which will compete in the upcoming 38th National Games in Uttarakhand, are scheduled for January 9, 10, and 11 at 8 am and 2.30 pm at the Khuman Lampak Astro Turf Hockey Stadium in Imphal, it said citing people familiar with the matter.
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