Bengaluru: Oimps Lunghar, hailing from Teinem Village, has made history by becoming the first Tangkhul individual to attain the prestigious SAI NS NIS Certified Badminton Coach designation in 40 years, marking a significant achievement after a four-decade gap. He completed the rigorous certification course at SAI NS Southern Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
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In addition to his coaching credentials, Lunghar is currently pursuing a PhD in the Department of Zoology at The New College, University of Madras, Chennai. He holds the distinction of being the first Tangkhul player to undergo overseas training, having been a former trainee at the New Vision Badminton Academy in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, under the guidance of Sweden National Coach (doubles), Kamaldeep Singh, and Yogendran Krishnan, who currently serve as coaching staff for the Malaysian National Men’s Singles department. Lunghar also trained under the renowned Malaysian badminton coach, Ahmadi Saman at NVBA-Smashbounce, Chennai.
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Lunghar is also recognized for his leadership roles within the badminton community, serving as the founding Chairman of Sāfą Badminton Management. Under his leadership, the organization recently organized the inaugural Tangkhul Open Badminton Championship 2023 in Chennai, a groundbreaking event aimed at fostering the sport among Tangkhuls residing across various cities in India and abroad. Furthermore, Lunghar serves as the head coach of the Tangkhul Indigenous Badminton Club Chennai (TIBCC) in Tamil Nadu, further solidifying his commitment to promoting and developing badminton talent within the Tangkhul community.
Lunghar’s badminton journey began at the Ukhrul District Badminton Association (UDBA) in Ukhrul, Manipur. Notably, there has been a 40-year gap since Ms. Bala Keishing became an NS NIS Certified Badminton Coach in 1983.
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