American baseball inspires Manipur youth:
Imphal, Apr 28: The American baseball is getting increasingly popular in Manipur with sports enthusiasts in the state taking keen interests in the game.
The Manipuri youth's active participation in the game has led to the tournaments being organised at the state level.
After the establishment of First Pitch: the US - Manipur Baseball Project, a New York and Imphal-based organization - the players are encouraged to look beyond the conventional stream.
The organisation aims to develop and upgrade the centre for baseball along with other related facilities.
"I like this game and lots of my juniors also like the game. There has been a lot of encouragement due to the funding by the American organisation. This will certainly help in our progress," said Nongthang, a player.
Muriel Peters, Chairman of the First Pitch expressed her happiness at the increasing popularity of the game while lauding the players for their unbeatable passion for the sport.
"I think they play wonderfully. I am just happy to see that baseball is getting more popular," said Muriel Peters, Chairman, First Pitch, New York.
Moreover, the management of the First Pitch believes that the Manipuri youth have tremendous caliber, which can open up plethora of opportunities for them.
"We have the coaching camps said to be the best in Asia in our level, not comparing to Japan of course, but in south east Asia and south Asia. We have the most amazing success, the best of every kind, the Major Baseball League ever experienced," said L.omi Roy, Executive Director, First Pitch.
The sports has started to gain momentum in the state is evident from the recently organised State Level Tournament under First Pitch, which witnessed the participation from total 12 teams including four teams of women players.
Baseball, although of American origin, has inspired sports enthusiasts all over the world.
The sport is very popular in North America, Central America, parts of South America and the Caribbean, and parts of East Asia and Southeast Asia.
Source: Asian News International
Showing posts with label First Pitch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label First Pitch. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, November 5, 2007
Manipur's tryst with Baseball
Baseball making rapid strides in Manipur:
Nov 4: Making an assessment of the state's baseball players and coaches, Major League Baseball envoy coaches Jeff Brueggemann and David Palese gave high marks on attitude, dedication and passion for the game eliciting comparisons even with the South East Asian giants South Korea and Japan.
The two coaches are on their second visit to Imphal following an arrangement between one of the biggest sporting body on earth, the Major League Baseball of the United States of America and the New York based First Pitch, a non-profit organization committed to popularization of baseball in Manipur.
With an optimistic vision, First Pitch donated bulks of baseball equipment to the joy of all baseball enthusiasts and kids during the first coaching camp last year.
The second coaching camp got underway a couple of days ago.
The globetrotting Jeff, however, minced no words on the remoteness of these players turning professional.
He said a professional change over needs huge financial investment but an amateur set up is not less valuable.
Recollecting his youth in Kansas, USA, Jeff insisted that baseball was more than a career option suggesting it inculcated great virtues in life and led the teenagers from harms way.
He said only exceptional talent can lead a player to the top league and in fact only a few are fortunate to make a living out of it.
However, the leadership skill and discipline it instills during adolescence is invaluable, he said.
David, who along with Jeff imparted coaching tips to 31 local coaches last fall, complimented the coaches and players on the long strides they have accomplished during the turn of the year.
David said he was amazed at the expanding base of the game and the commitment exhibited.
Manipur Baseball Association has now a burgeoning list of around 450 players and twenty affiliated clubs.
The state teams have won laurels in the national arena during the last few years.
First Pitch board member Somi Roy agreed that the next target is construction of a ball park, for which a plot of land in Lamphel has been earmarked and to turn Manipur into a centre of Indian baseball.
The lack of facilities and equipment appeared to be the only shortfall though the foreign coaches supposed it will be fulfilled with time.
One female local coach confided that though the players still have few career options, after the arrival of free equipment, courtesy First Pitch, baseball lovers have been mobilized and the proposed baseball park, whenever it comes up, will be the next gratifying moment.
Nov 4: Making an assessment of the state's baseball players and coaches, Major League Baseball envoy coaches Jeff Brueggemann and David Palese gave high marks on attitude, dedication and passion for the game eliciting comparisons even with the South East Asian giants South Korea and Japan.
The two coaches are on their second visit to Imphal following an arrangement between one of the biggest sporting body on earth, the Major League Baseball of the United States of America and the New York based First Pitch, a non-profit organization committed to popularization of baseball in Manipur.
With an optimistic vision, First Pitch donated bulks of baseball equipment to the joy of all baseball enthusiasts and kids during the first coaching camp last year.
The second coaching camp got underway a couple of days ago.
The globetrotting Jeff, however, minced no words on the remoteness of these players turning professional.
He said a professional change over needs huge financial investment but an amateur set up is not less valuable.
Recollecting his youth in Kansas, USA, Jeff insisted that baseball was more than a career option suggesting it inculcated great virtues in life and led the teenagers from harms way.
He said only exceptional talent can lead a player to the top league and in fact only a few are fortunate to make a living out of it.
However, the leadership skill and discipline it instills during adolescence is invaluable, he said.
David, who along with Jeff imparted coaching tips to 31 local coaches last fall, complimented the coaches and players on the long strides they have accomplished during the turn of the year.
David said he was amazed at the expanding base of the game and the commitment exhibited.
Manipur Baseball Association has now a burgeoning list of around 450 players and twenty affiliated clubs.
The state teams have won laurels in the national arena during the last few years.
First Pitch board member Somi Roy agreed that the next target is construction of a ball park, for which a plot of land in Lamphel has been earmarked and to turn Manipur into a centre of Indian baseball.
The lack of facilities and equipment appeared to be the only shortfall though the foreign coaches supposed it will be fulfilled with time.
One female local coach confided that though the players still have few career options, after the arrival of free equipment, courtesy First Pitch, baseball lovers have been mobilized and the proposed baseball park, whenever it comes up, will be the next gratifying moment.
The two Major League Baseball envoy coaches had also visited other states of India to popularise the game in the country.
Source: The Sangai Express
Source: The Sangai Express
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