Monika Issue

Ban on national, international meets suspended:

Imphal, Sep 8: Giving a breather to the sportspersons of the state, the Coordinating Committee Against the Conspiracy to Exclude Monika from Beijing Olympics by Government of India has temporarily lifted the ban on participating in Zonal, National and International level competitions.
The decision was taken after a meeting of the Co-ordinating Committee at Khuman Lampak sports complex here on Monday, announced Manipur Olympic Association (MOA) president and the Co-ordinating Committee's convener Elangbam Binoy Singh while talking to mediapersons after the meeting.
"Since the Centre has responded to the people's demand by entrusting CBI to begin inquiry into the matter related to deliberate exclusion of Manipuri weightlifter Laishram Monika Devi from the Beijing Olympic squad, we have resolved to lift the restriction so that the State athletes can continue excel in sports and bring more laurels' Binoy said adding "Our players will fight for the sake of justice".
Stating that sports has become a mass movement and that it survives because of the people's contribution, the MOA president said the whole people of Manipur have shown their united strength in demanding justice.
However, the Committee may resume its restriction if the guilty officials involved in pulling out Monika from the Olympics are not punished, Binoy informed.
The whole of Northeastern region and Manipur in particular has been in turmoil after Laishram Monika Devi, who hails from remote Nachou village of Bishnupur district, was withdrawn from the just concluded Beijing Olympics on doping charge, though the charge was cleared afterward.
On August 11 last a public meeting organized by the Committee at Khuman Lampak sports complex here and the meeting resolved that athletes of the State should stop participating in all sporting competitions beyond the State until the Centre tenders an apology to the people of Manipur, stops all forms of discrimination against sportspersons and punishment of the guilty officials.
Endorsing to meeting resolution, sportspersons of the State skipped from various Zonal and National sports competitions in different disciplines including Hockey ( sub-junior), athletes (zonal), Judo ( national), Kabadi ( zonal at Imphal), weight lifting ( National) and Sepak Tekraw ( National) and Subroto under 14, Binoy said.
The State athletes will, however, get the chance to take part in the Eastern Zone Badminton Championship to be held at Meghalaya, the MOA president added.
Monika, who is currently in Manipur, has expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Committee for struggling for her cause.
A rally will be staged at Imphal by representatives of various sports and students bodies in addition to Meira Paibi (women vigil groups) on Wednesday to exert pressure for bringing justice in the CBI probe and book the errant officials, the MOA chief informed.
On Wednesday last around one hundred womenfolk picketed Manipur Youth Affairs and Sports (YAS) office at Khuman Lampak sports complex demanding announcement of the Krishnamurthy probe report and punishment of the guilty officials.

Source: The Sangai Express

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Manipur State League

Three teams share top spot:

Imphal, Sep 4: The competition in the 3rd Manipur State League is getting fiercer by the day. After 24 matches, three teams are now running neck and neck at the top spot, each determined to claim the league title. Tiddim Road Unique Gamy Players’ Union, North Imphal Sporting Association and Southern Sporting Union currently share the lead with 10 point each after the fourth round of the state league.
The Tiddim Road Unique Gamy men, however, are in a better position, as they have not conceded a single goal in the tournament so far. Moreover, they defeated defending champions Tiddim Road Athletic Union 4-0 on Wednesday evening at Bishnupur Mini Stadium.
Playing before a home crowd, Tiddim Road Unique Gamy Players’ Union had that added advantage which they utilised fully to defeat their rivals.
The first half remained goalless, but in the second half the tide turned in favour of the home team as they pounded the Athletic Union men to a pulp.
Tiddim Road Unique Gamy’s M. Sudhiranjan Singh drew first blood in the 53rd minute and only two minutes later, the Athletic men were given another setback when S. Surchand Singh netted the second goal for the Gamy men.
The Athletic men, still reeling from shock, were unable to bounce back and the feeble attempts they made were brutally squashed by their opponents.
However, the Gamy men were still baying for more blood and in the 73rd minute, M. Sudhiranjan Singh netted his second goal of the match. Ksh. Naoton Singh scored another goal two minutes later to shut out the defending champions from the match.
In another match, Manipur Police Sports Club defeated Youth Welfare Club 2-1. The match was played at Manipur Police Training School in Pangei.
Youth Welfare Club caught the Policemen napping when Th. Vandona netted the ball in the 46th minute to grab the lead.
The Policemen however, came back with a vengeance and in the 65th minute, Ksh. Kanta Singh, fetched the equaliser. They had the last laugh, as Md Ziaul Haque proved lucky in netting the winning goal in the 88th minute.
In the other matches played on Wednesday, Southern Sporting Union blanked Eastern Sporting Union 3-0 at Lilong Chajing in Imphal West. North Imphal Sporting Association won 3-1 against United Sporting Association at Sekmai Kangjeibung. North Eastern Re-Organisation and Cultural Association had a solitary goal victory over All Moirang Football Association in their match played at Luwangpokpa ground.
Phoudel Youth Club inflicted a 6-2 defeat on New Lamka Youth Club at the former’s home ground at Thoubal district.

Source: The Telegraph