If sportsmen—and their exploits—are the best ambassadors of a state, Manipur has reasons to be in the public eye over a long period. If Mary Kom’s bronze in the 2012 London Olympics piqued interest in the state for a new generation of Indians, spotlights were swung again on Manipur the moment Saikhom Mirabai Chanu lifted India’s first medal at the Tokyo Olympics. One of India’s easternmost states and bordering Myanmar, Manipur has had consistent representation in Indian sports ever since hockey player Pangambam Nilakomol Singh became its first Olympian. Nilakomol Singh, a goalkeeper, represented India in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. He also played for India in the 1986 FIH Hockey World Cup in London and in the same year won a bronze medal at the Seoul Asian Games.
Since Nilakomol, the state has produced Olympians and world champions like Mary Kom, Sarita Devi and Kunjarani Devi…why, no Indian football team is complete without a Manipuri player. In the fitness of things, Bala Devi, the first Indian woman footballer to win an international contract with a European club, hails from Manipur. The current Indian hockey teams have several Manipuri players, after Thoiba Singh carried Nilakomol’s legacy forward by playing in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.
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Yet Manipur, like most Northeastern states, have problems bedeviling its youth—drugs, especially, have been a persistent canker. One remedy is sport—used as a tool to harness young men and women who are naturally fit and strong. “Drugs have been an issue with youth in the Northeast. It’s for parents to ensure they don’t get into such habits. Sports itself can be a great addiction and now it is a source of sustenance too. The awareness is growing,” says Bala Devi.
Families here typically support sports and 31-year-old Bala Devi, who started playing football with the neighbourhood boys, says her state needs to tap into the immense potential it has in sports like boxing, football, hockey, weightlifting and martial arts—all of them a perfect fit for the superb physique and stamina that Manipuri genes spawn in plenty.
“The sporting ecosystem has improved a lot and can only get better in terms of infrastructure. But what really helps is support from families. All Manipuri sportspersons who have done well have got tremendous support from parents. For a girl, there is no social pressure to marry or do household chores. If I am good at sport, my family will encourage me. That’s a huge plus,” points out Bala Devi, whose European sojourn has reaffirmed her belief in a sporting culture.
In January 2020, Bala Devi won an 18-month contract with Glasgow’s Rangers FC. The striker, who has scored a record 52 goals for India, was given the prestigious No. 10 shirt and became the first Asian to play for the Scottish team. Bala feels Manipur needs more role models like her, Mirabai and Mary Kom. “It was good to see the accolades Mirabai Chanu got after winning the Tokyo 2020 silver. It will really inspire Manipuri athletes to succeed at the international level,” she says.
Manipur is the quintessential sleeping giant, feels Thokchom Radheshyam, the president of Manipur Olympic Association. A former IPS officer-turned politician, Radheshyam is a BJP MLA from Heirok and is a minister of labour, education and employment in N. Biren Singh’s cabinet. “Sport is in the blood of Manipuris and we involve them in sports from a very tender age. But there has been a lack of sporting culture at the grassroots level due to absence of infrastructure and maybe proper guidance,” points out Radheshyam, who reposes much hope in the Union sports ministry’s ambitious Khelo and Fit India movements.
Despite its contribution, Manipur is not a model state when it comes to sports. “Sports, education and art and culture are very dear to the people of Manipur. Sports clubs are facilitators to our young talent,” says Radheshyam. With limited resources, compounded by lack of financial support, associations have been nurturing promising athletes with an eye towards state and national competitions, he says. “Only state associations can make Manipur a model state and hence strengthening clubs and associations with financial and technical support is our next agenda,” he adds.
Since no state aiming at sporting excellence can do without a regular stream of funds for infrastructure, Manipur will need special attention to realise its immense potential. To put things in perspective, Manipur’s annual sports budget hovers around 129 crores, less than one third of Haryana’s—that other sporting powerhouse. A large chunk of Manipur’s sports budget goes for maintaining the sports and youth services department, including salaries and hosting youth welfare and national service schemes. Only about Rs 56 crore are earmarked for clubs, promotion of indigenous games and stipends to promising sportspersons. This falls far short of what a state like Haryana offers. The state bursts with natural talent; all it needs is a concerrted, vital push of resources.
(This appeared in the print edition as "Born With Golden Boots")
