Manipur is a mine of players

- From the state of Manipur with a population of barely 35 lakhs, India has got Olympic champions and 18 Arjuna Award winners ...

- Vividha-Bhaven Kutchi

- Manipur's message to metro cities: Money can buy gold and silver, not gold, silver or bronze medals

- Learn how Manipur became India's sports hub

Manipur is a state in the North East of India. Manipur, which has a population of barely 3 lakh as a city, has been responsible for maintaining India's sporting reputation globally for the last few years. Medals also cannot be purchased. It could be a biopic of most of India's historically accomplished players as their upbringing with poverty, struggle and poor equipment is almost equally heartbreaking.

Before reaching the level of coaching centers, coaches and then going abroad for training in Haryana, Delhi, Bangalore and other cities, they enjoy playing on the farm. There is no home TV to watch the events that their children participate in. We are often tapping children living in the city to watch closely at home TV the game or tournament of the great players of the sport you are interested in coming up with. But poor players like Glory of India have never seen home televisions, Olympics, world events, cricket, Grand Slam tennis broadcasts during their formative years. What a pity that the world can see their game live, so even before they see the camera on them for the first time, they have never seen themselves on TV in such a way as to inspire even the best players in the world sitting at home.

The first Olympics of her career in which 8-year-old Mirabai or Mary Kom took part was when they did not have a home TV at the previous Olympics. Maybe one can become rich by earning in a short period of time but the one who becomes the beacon of achievement, contribution or caste, society or country has to make a living. Something has to be done differently and differently. You have to heat to make gold. "You have to be the fragrance of flowers, not of perfume," said Brahmin Bal Avaghut. "If we talk about the Olympics, history will always remember its medal winners as fragrances." Fragrant flowers do not grow overnight. Have to warm up and stay between the thorns. Despite being surrounded by thorns, the flowers do not become like them under the influence of thorns. Maintaining the nature of spreading their fragrance is a goal. Even once the players have made up their minds, obstacles cannot shake them. Those who are not players have to live with knowledge in this way in their life or whatever career they want to pursue.

It can be said for Manipur that the country and the world are roaring from small centers just like the world is run by the big talk of small people. Manipur is becoming India's sports hub. In fact, now if India wants to achieve more in sports, it should study Manipur as a subject of case study or research. With the exception of the Beijing Olympics, four or more Manipur athletes have competed in all the Olympics since 2000. No state has done so. Of these five, an average of four are weightlifters and one is a boxer. Manipur boxer Mary Kom has gifted India an Olympic bronze and now weightlifter Mirabai Chanu a silver medal.

Among the Manipur players who have won medals in international events and Commonwealth Games at the international level are Kunjarani Devi, Sanjeeta Rani, Sarita Devi in ​​weightlifting, Devendra Singh, late. In Dingko Singh boxing, Kalpana Devi (judo) and Boithang Haokip (football) are the main ones. Pangambam Nilkamal, the goalkeeper of the Indian hockey team in the 19th Olympics, was the first Manipur player to play in the Olympics, but then Manipur became an integral part of the Indian game. Khetri Mayum Thoiba was a member of the Indian hockey team at the 19th Olympics, Kothajit was a member of the 2012 and 2014 hockey teams, and was a member of the Indian hockey team of Chinglensa at the 2012 Olympics. Thokchom Anuradha also played an important role in the 2016 women's Olympic team. The captain of the 2012 Indian women's hockey team was Sushila Chanu from Manipur.

Nilkanta Sharma is also in India's current men's hockey team. Gangom Dingko and Saubam Suresh were in boxing at the 2000 Olympics, Sanamaya and Kunjara at the 2008 Olympics, while Gangbam Sonia, Mary Kom and Laishram Devendra were in boxing at the 2016 Olympics. Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in this Olympics but she has also represented India in the 2012 Olympics. Apart from the Olympics, there are eight players from Manipur in India's under-19 football team and three in the men's football team. In the Indian women's football team, 14 players are from Manipur.

Apart from weightlifting and boxing, India's first judo player (year 2000) also became a brojesh. Khumujam Tombi also competed in the 2008 Olympics as a judak. Similarly, Laishram Bombalya represented India in individual and team events as an archer in the three Olympics of 2007, 2012 and 2014.

So far, 18 athletes from Manipur have competed in the Olympics, an achievement not achieved by any other state in India. The Arjuna Award is given every year to the players who have made a name for themselves in the world of sports in India. In the last 30 years, 18 players from Manipur have been honored with Arjuna and seven with Khel Ratna awards. There are about 1000 sports clubs in Manipur. The club is run not by the state or central government but by citizen funds.

Those who deserve money help more. The club doesn't have to be hi-fi like the big city. New or second hand purchased equipment of the game is placed under a shed. Basic facilities have been set up for a field or a relatively inexpensive game. Weightlifting, boxing, football, judo, archery and polo are the main sports. This unique club culture, which is not found in any other state of India, is attributed to King Budhachandra and his predecessors before Manipur did not merge with India. The king created a system in the citizens with such a sacrament that the government does not give everything. It is through public participation that the Shree culture develops. Enthusiasm and team spirit are doubled only if the person himself is involved in shaping the society.

Everyone has to spend some days of the year in the centers for children, adolescents and youth. These centers were also funded by the citizens. Those who are strong but retired had to donate more time like this. This system is called 'Lallup' (meaning compulsory social service) in Manipuri language. This practice was maintained in Manipur even after the monarchy came under British rule in 181. In India, the corporation and the corporation provide gymnasiums, sports facilities and baths for free for the convenience of the citizens but they are in a dilapidated condition. They should be entrusted with the task of forming committees of citizens in the cities of India. A backward state like Manipur teaches us.

Now the center of the Sports Authority of India has also come to Imphal, the capital of Manipur. The coaches of the center visit such clubs frequently and see the rising players practicing. The talented ones are first sent to Imphal, then to Delhi and even abroad.

Players like Mary Kom and Mirabai have come forward in this way. In recent years, coaches from different sports in India have been coming to Manipur in search of such players. As the league of football, hockey and other sports has started, the owner of the team of this league also sends his staff specially to Manipur. Manipur players are seen in maximum in different football and hockey league teams. One study also found that unlike China, Japan and Korea, their dietary base is not wheat but rice, which may be ideal for athletes.

Similarly, their low altitude is similar to that of China and Japan. In some sports this factor seems to work in keeping the balance and away from the influence of the force of gravity. This same trait is believed to be behind the magic of short stature players like Maradona and Messi in football. Such interesting studies are also taking place in sports science.

Manipur came under Indian rule in 19th and remained a Union Territory since 19th. The notable class of citizens of Manipur did not want to merge with India. Separatist groups have also been wreaking havoc in Manipur since the 1990s. Extremist elements are still active today. China also incites anti-India elements in Manipur after Sikkim, Arunachal, Nagaland. Ajanpo continues in the state. Drug and illegal weapons infiltration also raises concerns. Even from the Assam border, such activity is rampant under the umbrella of 'ULFA'.

A large section of the citizens of the North East still believe that no government of India has kept them with the mainstream of the country. They feel like they are from a different country than India. These states, which are full of beauty and great talents and hardworking citizens, also need to have a developing vision in terms of India's security.

Manipur means 'city of diamond jewels'. Now it is also called gold, silver and bronze medal mine.