Manipur Indigenous Wrestling Championship 2022 underway

Our Correspondent
Imphal, Nov. 23 (EMN): Manipur Indigenous Wrestling Championship 2022 began at Senapati Mini Stadium at Senapati district headquarters, 60 km north of Imphal on Wednesday.

The championship was organised as part of the ongoing Manipur Sangai Festival 2022 celebration by the Senapati District Wrestling Association Manipur and hosted by Makhrelui village.

Manipur Sangai Festival which was initially started as a tourism festival in 2010 is currently being celebrated across 13 different venues in five districts with Moirang Khunou in Bishnupur district as the main venue, and Makhel, Mao and Senapati in Senapati district and Behiang, Khuga and Churachandpur in Churachandpur district.

Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution minister L Susindro Meitei and MLA Thangjam Arunkumar (Wangkhei), who is also president of Mukna Association, were present during the inaugural function, which began with a blessing from KN Namba, Chief of Maram Khullen village.

Speaking on the occasion, Susindro Meitei stated that Sangai Festival, which was celebrated in the Imphal area, has now become a statewide celebration with the collaboration of various events like the state indigenous wrestling championship and others.

He appealed to the civil society organisations to work together hand-in-hand with the government and also wished the participants to play with discipline.

In his presidential speech, MLA Arunkumar said that the indigenous game of wrestling has been very popular in the state since time immemorial both in the hill and valley areas. He also said that indigenous wrestling is helpful for building the physique of an individual participating in events like judo and international wrestling, though there are some differences in techniques.

Altogether, 60 persons are participating in the four-day long championship in two categories of above and below 65 kg.

The day’s programme was attended by representatives of various civil society organisations, village chairmen and secretaries, and former wrestling champions.