The opening ceremony programme of the 2nd Buwhrin Esa Badminton Championship 2021 organized by Monsang Pantha Youth & Cultural Club (MPYCC) was held at Monsang Pantha community hall on Saturday.
President of Sirti Upa Ruh (Monsang Tribe Union) Upa Ng. Gilbert and chief of Monsang Pantha village Upa Ng. Vincent attended the programme as chief guest and guest of honour respectively. Upa Ng. Anthony, President, Monsang Olympic Association (MOA), Upa Rev. Fr. Kelwin, Asst. Parish Priest, St. Peter’s Parish, Upa Ng. Johnson, catechist HCCC, Sanuw Ts. Dinpham, President SSR, Sanuw Ng. Barbara, President MPWDS, Ts. Andrew Kolarshing, Speaker SUR, Sapa K. Edward, President JYC, Monsang Pantha village authority elders, Ethar Erur team attended the function as special invitees among others.
Upa Ts. Warshing, advisory member of MPYCC in his introductory speech highlighted the brief history and objective of organizing the badminton championship at Monsang Pantha. One of the objectives was to introduce badminton as a new game in a traditionally football dominated Monsang Pantha youth sports history. The championship is also intended to engage the youths stay away from substance abuses and keep them busy during this difficult Covid-19 pandemic situation.
Upa Ng. Vincent in his speech appreciated the MPYCC leaders for taking up such important initiative to keep the youths engaged with sports and hunt young talents simultaneously. He also encouraged the youth leaders to archive and preserve every cultural and sports activity taken up thus far in the village and outside for posterity. Such exercise will help in the retrospection and introspection of the club history for reference and betterment in future, he mentioned.
Chief guest of the day, Upa Ng. Gilbert throws light on how sports in contemporary period can be taken up as a beautiful career and opportunity unlike few decades ago when sports were not taken seriously as it deserves to be. Sports these days give us respect and job security if we worked hard and are successful. He cited the recent sucess stories of Saikhom Mirabai Chanu and Nilakanta Sharma in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics 2020 and the kind of welcome and appreciations and acknowledgment they have received in Manipur. This examples are to encourage the youths to take up sports more seriously beyond just good health and sound mind benefits or advantages, he emphasized.
The formation of Chandel Hockey Association recently is believed to open up new avenues for young boys and girls of the district to excel in this discipline and achieve international feats in future. Let us go and explore talents beyond just football in our district also, he mentioned. He reiterated that good sportsman spirit is vital cutting across any discipline and asked the youths to keep this spirit intact. He wished all the participants the best of luck in his concluding remark.
It may be mentioned that the 2nd Buwrhin Esa Badminton Championship 2021 is restricted only for Monsang Pantha villagers due to Covid pandemic and other technical issues. The opening ceremony was colored with mesmerizing dance performance presented by village kids, Maria Goretti dance troupe, women society, and CSC team with much delight and appreciation from the audience. The first opening match of the tournamnet show a fierce contest between Kh. Mongamshing and Ts. Jonah under 16-20 years age category. Ts. Jonah won the match by 21-18, 21-19.
President of MPYCC, Ng. Salim Peter speaking to UT correspondent says that the tournament will conclude on 23rd October which is offically observed as “Buwrhin Esa” day. Buwrhin Esa in Monsang society is important cultural festival and is considered as the feast of the first harvest.
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