Asian Boxing Championships

Suranjoy ends India's 15-year gold drought in Asian boxing

Zhuhai (China), June 13: Manipur's Suranjoy Singh gave India its first Asian Championship gold in 15 years while Thokchom Nanao Singh and Jai Bhagwan settled for silver medals as the country's boxers rounded off a 27-year-best performance in the elite event here today.

India ended their campaign with a gold, two silver and four bronze medals, which went to Jitender Kumar (54kg) Vijender Singh (75kg), Dinesh Kumar (81kg) and Paramjit Samota (+91kg). The team was placed third in the overall standings behind hosts China and Uzbekistan.

The performance this time is a marked improvement from 1982 championships held in Seoul where the country's boxers notched up two gold, an equal number of silver and a bronze medal.

The last gold medal for India in the Asian Championship came in the 1994 edition in Tehran where Rajkumar Sangwan finished on top in the super heavy weight category.

And today, it was a fly weight (51kg) boxer who broke the 15-year jinx. Suranjoy, a junior World Championship bronze medallist in 2004, beat Li Chao of China 9-8 in a thrilling encounter.

"It was certainly not one of my best performances because my opponent came very close to upstaging me but I am thrilled to win India's first gold medal here in 15 years," an elated Suranjoy said.

Another Manipuri, Nanao (48 kgs) settled for a silver losing 8-9 in a cliffhanger finaL to Pongprayoon Keaw of Thailand.

Nanao was leading after winning the first round 3-2 and was tied 6-6 at the end of the second round. He was leading 8-7 in the third round with less than ninety seconds from the finish but the Thai boxer came back strong to win 9-8.

Junior National Football at Bhillai

Results of Group A QF league matches on Jan 2: Manipur beat Meghalaya 2-0; Punjab drew Gujarat 0-0
Results of Group B QF league matches on Jan 1: Jharkhand beat Chandigarh 2-0; Delhi beat Uttar Pradesh 2-1
Results of Group A QF league matches on Dec 31: Meghalaya beat Punjab 1-0; Manipur beat Gujarat 5-0
Results of matches on Dec 30: Cluster III: Bengal 3 Tamilnadu 0; Cluster VII: Delhi 4 Madhya Pradesh 0

Junior National Football

Results of matches on Dec 29 at Bhillai:
Cluster IV: Uttarakhand 4 Pondicherry 0
Cluster VII: Delhi 2 Mizoram 2
Cluster VIII: Uttar Pradesh 4 Bihar 0
Cluster III: Punjab 2 Orissa 0
Cluster IV: Jharkhand 3 Assam 2
Results of matches on Dec 27:
Cluster IV: Assam 3 Uttarakhand 1
Cluster IV: Jharkhand 13 Pondicherry 0
Cluster III: Maharashtra 2 Punjab 2
Cluster VIII: Uttar Pradesh 3 Tripura 0
Results of matches on Dec 26:
Cluster I: Haryana 2 Kerala 0
Cluster VI: Manipur 5 Karnataka 0
Cluster V: Gujarat 3 Himachal Pradesh 0
Results of matches on Dec 25:
Cluster IV: Assam 10 Pondicherry 0
Cluster VIII: Bihar 6 Tripura 1
Cluster III: Orissa 0 Maharashtra 0
Cluster IV: Jharkhand 3 Uttarakhand 0
Results of matches on Dec 24:
Cluster I: Haryana 1 Meghalaya 1
Cluster II: West Bengal 0 Chandigarh 1
Cluster V: Chhattisgarh 1 Gujarat 3
Cluster VI: Goa 0 Manipur 0

Sub Jr. National Football Championship

Assam beat Manipur
Mahilpur (Punjab), Sep 21: Asom registered its first win in the Sub-Junior National Football Championship defeating Manipur 3-1 on Sunday. Asom will now face Karnataka in the second league match which will be held on Tuesday.
Results of the matches played on Sept. 21:
Cluster VI: Assam beat Manipur 3-1; Cluster VI: Karnataka beat Chandigarh 6-0; Cluster VII: Delhi beat Gujarat 1-0; Cluster VI: Himachal Pradesh beat Bihar 1-0; Cluster VIII: Goa beat Tripura 3-0.
Results of the matches played on Sept. 20:
Punjab beat Pondicherry 23-0; West Bengal beat Orissa 4-0; UP beat MP 2-1; Meghalaya beat Maharashtra 4-1

3rd Manipur State League

SSU, Singjamei on top after round nine
Imphal, Sep 21: Goal difference continues to be the deciding factor in the race for the title of the 3rd Manipur State League football tournament with SSU, Singjamei replacing TRUGPU, Nambol on top of the points table at the end of ninth round today while reigning champion NISA, Thangmeiband humbled TRAU, Tiddim Road 4-0 at THAU ground.
NISA would be leaving for Tripura tomorrow to participate in the zonal level Federation Cup football competition.
Hosting USA, Khurai at Lilong Chajing ground today, SSU handed a crushing 4-0 defeat to the visitors with Gaichungam Kamson opening the score account in the opening minute before goals from L Dewan (31st), Kh Ratan (53rd) and AS Thamreishang (67th) took the match from the opponents' grasp.
At Nambol, home team TRUGPU outplayed MPSC 2-0 to tie SSU at 21 points with the Singjamei side pipping their nearest rival on goal difference. Naoton (31st) and Surchand (84th) were TRUGPU goal scorers.
Goals from M Bijen (19th), Benjamin Kamson (75th), S Bikram (84th) and O Pritam (90th) fetched NISA maximum point and the third place in the standing on 21 point.
Playing at home, ESU (Wangkhei) held on its 69th minute goal by Ph Cheitei to edge past PYC, Phoudel.
In the day's other matches NEROCA downed NLYC, Churachandpur at Liberal College, Luwangshangbam ground as YWC, Thambalkhong and AMOFA, Moirang played a 3-3 draw at Thambalkhong.
After taking an 8th minute lead through L Nabachandra, NEROCA fell behind 1-2 as K Thangoulian struck in the 36th and 54th minutes before H Amarjit emulated the rival player's feat to slam in a brace within a span of four minutes (74th, 77th).
In the keenly contested YWC versus AMOFA match, H Roshangliana (10th), Th Inaotomba (28th) and Lalrintvanga (84th) scored for the Moirang side while Palmei Poupangai (42nd), W Daniel (59th) and Lensang Khongsai (88th) led the YWC fightback.
Points Table after Round Nine (Matches played; wins; draws; losses; goals for; goals against; goal difference; points)
1. Southern Sporting Union, Singjamei 9 6 3 0 21 4 +17 21
2. TRUGPU, Nambol (promoted) 9 6 3 0 22 7 +15 21
3. NISA, Thangmeiband (champion) 9 6 3 0 21 8 +13 21
4. Manipur Police Sports Club 9 5 3 1 12 6 + 6 18
5. NEROCA, Laipham Khunou 9 6 0 3 19 14 + 5 18
6. United Sports Association, Khurai 9 3 2 4 7 13 - 6 11
7. Phoudel Youth Club, Thoubal 9 2 2 5 11 14 - 3 8
8. Youth Welfare Club, Thambalkhong 9 2 2 5 10 14 - 4 8
9. All-Moirang Football Association 9 1 4 4 7 11 - 4 7
10. Tiddim Road Athletic Union 9 2 1 6 7 17 -10 7
11. Eastern Sporting Union, Wangkhei 9 2 1 6 5 15 -10 7
12. New Lamka Youth Club (promoted) 9 1 0 8 10 29 -19 3
Source: www.indianfootball.com

Show of Solidarity

Monika Devi to Lead Abhiruchi Run:

Guwahati, Sept. 1: Manipur weightlifter L. Monika Devi will lead Abhiruchi Sports Day’s silver jubilee run in Guwahati on Wednesday. The organisers of the run invited her to take part as a mark of solidarity with neighbouring Manipur's fight against vested interests that allegedly dashed the ace sportsperson’s Olympics dream last month.
“Today it is Monika Devi from our neighbouring Manipur, tomorrow it could be somebody from Assam. Hence, it is time we joined Manipur’s fightback against vested interests from mainland India which have conspired against the weightlifting prodigy from the Northeast. She is reaching Guwahati on Tuesday to lead the run. We will accord her a warm welcome,” the chairman of the organising committee of the run, Balendra Mohan Chakravarty, said on Monday.
The day is celebrated statewide at over 100 places on September 3 every year to celebrate the birthday of the first Asian Games gold medallist as well as the state’s first Arjuna award winner Bhogeswar Barua.
Monika Devi will lead the run from Chandmari flyover here.
On the day’s programme, Chakravarty said unlike the earlier editions, outstanding sports personalities would not be felicitated on Wednesday but during the main silver jubilee function in December.
This time, the run that will culminate in Nehru Stadium will be followed by a dance and aerobics competition among children from nearly 50 schools in the city.
Besides, the heads of about 70 educational institutions in the city will be felicitated to express gratitude for their service to make the event a success every year.
On the silver jubilee function in December, Chakravarty said an Australian cricketer and an Olympian from any Asian country would be invited as special guests. He hinted that Steve Waugh or Brett Lee would be contacted for their availability.
The main function here will also comprise a two-day seminar on the importance of physical education as a subject in school curriculum and a daylong indigenous sports festival.
Source: The Telegraph

Monika Devi Links (in chronological order):
Monika fails dope test
Monika tests positive, withdrawn from Games
I am innocent, I have been framed: Monika
I am innocent, says Monika
IOA relieved Monica tested positive in India: deputy chef-de-mission
Coach stands by Monika Devi
Kalmadi praises SAI
Monika questions SAI's dope test norms
SAI dope test on Monika illegal: IWF
L Monika case shocks Manipur
CM, MP assure interventions
Conspiracy, cries Manipur
What did Monika test positive for?
Weighlifting Federation boss insists Monika clean
'Monika case attempt to defame Northeast'
Protests in Manipur over Monika Devi's dope report
Ex-weightlifting champ blames IWF for dope taint
Monika to seek ‘B’ sample test
Manipur erupts over Monika exit
24-hr general strike called today to protest Monika exclusion
Northeast footballers appeal for Monika
Boycott threat over Monika
MOA decides to boycott natl championships and Natl Games over Monika issue
Monika cleared, but won't be able to compete in Games
No entry for Monika in Olympics: IOA
SAI clears, but Monika won’t go to Beijing
International weightlifting body says 'no' to Monika
IOA, SAI ruined Monika's career: Ibobi
Monika Devi issue: Manipur CM seeks CBI probe
Monika’s village mourns death of sport
State parties demand resignation of IOA president and Union sports minister
MSF announces boycott of national leaders as protests continue in state
Monika accuses fellow lifters, demands probe
Manipur sends request for CBI probe into Monika episode
Manipur sets apology deadline
Public meeting seeks apology from GOI on Monika issue
Protests over Monika
Big conspiracy to end my career: Monika
Sports minister orders probe in Monika Devi doping case
Advani wants probe into Monika's doping episode
Manipur opts out: Athletics team returns as a mark of protest for Monika
Rousing welcome for Monika, bandh on Aug 19 to stay
Monika puts foot down on competitions
PA Sangma to take up matter with PM
General strike cripples life in state; schools, colleges spared
Battle headed for court- Panel for Monika consults legal experts
Krishna Murthy to submit Monika dope report
NESO demands CBI probe into Monika case
Panel urges PM to book conspirators- Monika places statement
IOA deliberately didn’t allow me to go to Beijing: Monika

62nd Santosh Trophy

Manipur fail to qualify for pre-quarterfinals:
Srinagar/Jammu, May 31: Services qualified for the pre-quarterfinal from Cluster II after they held Manipur to a 2-2 draw at GGM Science College grounds at Jammu today.
Both the teams finished with equal points of five with one win and two draws each but Services had better goal average of plus eight while Manipur had plus five.
Services now play Tamil Nadu in the pre-quarter Final on Monday.
Nagaland held Orissa to a 2-2 draw in an inconsequential match of Cluster II played at Maulana Azad stadium at Jammu.
How Manipur missed out:
May 27: Manipur beat Orissa 7-2; Services beat Nagaland 8-0
May 29: Manipur drew Nagaland 0-0; Services drew Orissa 1-1
May 31: Nagaland drew Orissa 2-2; Manipur drew Services 2-2

62nd Santosh Trophy

Manipur, Meghalaya win, Nagaland loses:
Jammu/Srinagar, May 27: Former champions Manipur opened their campaign with a facile 7-2 win over Orissa in a Cluster II match of the national football Championship for the Santosh Trophy played at GGM Science College grounds at Jammu.
Manipur, captained by former international Bijen Singh, toyed with their happless opponents.
Despite grabbing the lead in the 38th minute through Bhabani Singh, Orissa failed to continue with the magic as Jotin Singh of Manipur fired in from close range to level the scores in the 39th minute.
The second half was dominated by the energetic Manipuris who made Orissa dance to their tunes.
Bijen Singh (55th), Y Raju (61st, 82nd), I Khelemba Meitei (67th), K Samson (72nd) and A Naresh (77th) made no mistakes in converting their chances.
M Saddique scored the second goal for Orissa in the 74th minute from the left wing.
In another Cluster II match in Jammu, Services rode on a hat-trick by midfielder LB Victor to trounce Nagaland 8-0.
Nagaland were left clueless as the services forward line pumped in three goals in the first half and five in the second at Maulana Azad Stadium.
Shaji D'silva opened the account for Services in the 20th minute. Four minutes later, S Raleng shot home to make it 2-0. Gordon scored another goal just before the interval tohelp Services go to the break with a 3-0 lead.
After the change of ends, Victor came up with his hat-trick (63rd, 71st, 81st) to rub salt into Nagaland's wound. D'silva then completed his brace in the 70th minute, while Sudhir Mishra (61st) notched up a goal for Services.
At Polo ground in Srinagar, Meghalaya overpowered Uttarakhand 3-1 in pouring rain in an action-packed match.
Bansharalsun not only stunned their opponents but the spectators when he scored in the very second minute of the encounter. Receiving a ball from Kitkupar Kharshing, unmarkedBansharalsun made no mistake and sent the ball into the net from a close range (1-0).
Meghalaya scored another goal in the 42nd minute through Bansharalsun and then Marlanki Suting made it 3-0 in 74th minute before Nitin Kumar struck in the 76th minute to reduce the margin for Uttarakhand.
Due to unplayable ground conditions at the Bakshi Stadium following incessant rains, all matches matchs scheduled at the stadium till May 30 will be shifted to Kashmir University grounds.
Today's (May 27) Results:
Cluster II: Manipur beat Orissa 7-2; Services beat Nagaland 8-0
Cluster IV: HImachal beat Puducherry 3-2; J&K beat Daman and Diu 4-0
Cluster VIII: Meghalaya beat Uttarakhand 3-1
Scorers: Bansharalsun (2nd, 42nd), Marlanki Suting (74th)
May 28 Fixures:
Cluster I at G. G. M. Science College Ground, Jammu: Chandigarh vs Tamil Nadu; Sikkim vs Bihar
Cluster III at Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar (now shifted to Kashmir University grounds): Gujarat vs Tripura
Cluster V at Polo Ground, Srinagar: Jharkhand vs Uttar Pradesh
Cluster VI at Polo Ground, Srinagar: Assam vs Madhya Pradesh
Cluster VII at Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar (now shifted to Kashmir University grounds):
Mizoram vs Railways

Women's Football

Golden Year for Manipuri Women:

It was a sweet revenge for Manipuri girls over their opponents who dared to challenge their supremacy in sub junior football in recent years. Manipur defeated last year's winners Orissa 2-0 in the final of 4th Girl's (U-17) Sub Junior National Football Championship 2007-2008 at Diphu in Assam (April 25-May 11, 2008).

N. Montesori Chanu and E. Bindyarani Devi scored for Manipur. The duo must be doubly
happy that they were part of the team that lost to Orissa in the last edition.

Manipur had won the first and second editions of the tournament before Orissa won it in the third edition. Interestingly, all the finals so far had been between Manipur and Orissa. In the first edition at Udhagamandalam in Tamil Nadu in 2003, Manipur beat Orissa 1-0 in the final. In the second edition in 2004 at Dindigul in Tamil Nadu from December 9-24, Manipur had won 4-0 with a hat-trick from Bala Devi and Lalvarmoi Hmar scoring the other goal.

In the third edition in Chandigarh (July 10-27, 2006), the Manipur team led by international Bembem Devi and coached by yesteryear star Chaoba Devi returned second best losing to Orissa 0-1. This year, Manipur had beaten Chandigarh 17-0, Goa 6-0, Kerala 11-0, Mizoram 5-0 en-route to the semifinal where they beat Tamil Nadu 1-0.

The sub junior win also completed Manipur's domination in the women's football arena with the small state winning two other national competitions in the AIFF calendar -- U-19 and senior nationals. In the 16th Women's National Football Championship 2008 at Haldia in West Bengal from February 29 to March 16, Manipur beat Orissa 4-1 in the final while in the last edition of the Girls' under-19 National Football Championships held in Pondicherry from January 3 to 20, Manipur defeated Tamil Nadu 5-1 in the final.

Manipuri girls made up of more than half of national squad in U-17, U-19 and seniors. Players like Ngangom Bala Devi, Bembem Devi, Romi Devi Ashem and Lalvarmoi Hmar have graduated from U-17 to U-19 and now in the senior national squad.

Important members of Manipur team in the last three editions of U-17 national championship:
2nd edition (at Dindigul in Tamil Nadu from December 9 to 24, 2004): Bembem Devi, Ng. Bala Devi, A. Romi Devi, Kamala Devi, N. Roma Devi, L. Naobi Devi, Prameshwori Devi, Surbala Devi, Itarani Devi, Radharani Devi, Ranjita Devi, Lalvarmoi Hmar.
3rd edition (in Chandigarh from July 10 to 27, 2006): Y. Kamala Devi, M. Bembem Devi, N. Chanchan Chanu, N. Montesori Chanu, M. Mandakini Devi, N. Binodini Devi, T. Nungshitombi
Devi, W. Radharani Devi, H. Bijeta Devi, E Bindyarani Devi, Ksh Naocha Devi, I Itabala Devi
4th edition (at Diphu in Assam from April 25 to May 11, 2008): Y. Premi Devi, Ksh. Naocha
Devi, Y. Chandrajini Devi, E. Bindryarani Devi, N. Montesori Devi, K. Rameshori Devi, T.
Nungshitombi Devi.

India U-17 squad for the AFC U-17 women's championship in April 2005:
Goalkeeper: Wangkhem Thabal Devi (captain), Ahalaya Munda, Neelam Khalko
Defenders: Alochana Senapati, Romi Devi Ashem, Thangjam Ranjita, Tuli Goon, Suprana
Supraya Samal, Gulti Choudhary, Manpreet Sidhu
Midfielders: Chingtham Sanathoi Chanu, Lalvarmoi Hmar, Maibam Bembem Devi, Sasmita Malik, Manpreet Kaur, Suganya Raju
Forwards: Sapna Guria, Ngangom Bala Devi, Sangita Patra, Nameirakpam Roma Devi
Chief Coach: Moirangthem Ratan Kumar Singh

India U-19 squad for the AFC U-19 women's championship in Novemebr 2006:
Goalkeeper: Wangkhem Thabal Devi, Tarini Singh, Neelam Khalko
Defenders: Tuli Goon (captain), Surbala Devi Khumukcham, Alochana Senapati, Sabita Singh, Valarmita Ravi, Bijay Laxmi Sahoo, Romi Devi Ashem
Midfielders: Maibam Bembem Devi, Manpreet Kaur, Asha Rani Laishram, Chingtham Sanathoi Chanu, Sasmita Malik, Prameshwori Devi Irom, Shradhanjali Sahoo, Rinki Kujur, Nameirakpam Roma Devi
Forwards: Ngangom Bala Devi, Manpreet Kaur Sidhu, Lalvarmoi Hmar, Anuradha Chetri
Chief Coach: Moirangthem Ratan Kumar Singh

Indian women's senior squad for the AFC Women's Asia Cup Qualifiers 2008 in October 2007:
Goalkeeper: Ronibala Chanu Lourembam (Manipur), Prasanthi Pradhan
Defenders: Madhu Kumari (Bihar), Romi Devi Ashem (Manipur), Nameirakpam Geeta Rani Chanu (Manipur), Thoi Devi (Manipur), Alochana Senapati (West Bengal), Gulti Choudhary (West Bengal), Jayanti Barua, Ansha
Midfielders: Gitanjali Kuntia (Orissa), Oinam Bembem Devi (Manipur), Ngangom Bala Devi (Manipur), Lalvarmoi Hmar (Manipur), Gayatri Mallick (West Bengal), Rinku Ghosh (West Bengal), Pinky Bompal Magar (Orissa), Amoolya Jayaram
Forwards: Susmita Malick (West Bengal), Domiana Gomendes (Goa), Shilpy Deb (West Bengal),
Jagdeep Kaur (Punjab), Vasanthy Somu
Chief Coach: Premkanta Singh

Sub Jr. Girls' National Football

Manipur win; Assam, Tripura draw:
Diphu, Apr 29: Manipur beat Chandigarh 17-0, Orissa blanked out Jharkhand 3-0, while Assam and Tripura held Haryana and Bihar respectively in 1-1 draws in the four matches of the 4th sub-junior (under-17) girls' national football championship on Tuesday.
Goal getters for Manipur included Y Kamala (3), Bindyarani (4), Tejibala (2), bembem (3) and one each by Rinaroy, Meera, Santhalembi, Komlapati and Binodini. Manipur will play Goa in its first quarter final match on May 3 .
Orissa striker Gomati Bara displayed netted all the three goals for her team.
Tripura team striker Rita Karmakar scored a goal in the 20th minute. However, Bihar got their equaliser in the 70th minute from Ritika.
In the 4th match, Haryana striker Priyanka scored a goal in the 28th minute. Assam striker Sangita Boro scored the equaliser in the 75th minute.

First Pitch

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

National Taekwondo Championship

Manipur bags gold, bronze:

Imphal, Dec 21: W Lovely opened the gold medal account for Manipur in the 25th Sub Junior National Taekwondo Championship that began at Bhopal on Friday.

Apart from Lovely’s yellow metal haul in the girls’ fin weight class, L Dayananda added the boys’ featherweight bronze medal.

Source: The Sangai Express

36th Senior National Women’s Handball

Railways win title, Manipur runners-up:

Guwahati, Dec 18: Indian Railways successfully defended their title in the 36th Senior National Women’s Handball Championship defeating Manipur in a one-sided final at Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phukan Indoor Stadium here on Tuesday.

Railways won the match 20-9 and in the process completed a hat-trick of wins.

Railways that had nine national team players in their ranks, including the captain, were undoubtedly the favourites to win the tournament.

In the final, they were a lot more superior to their opponent and once the side scored their first goal they were simply unstoppable during the rest of the game.

Asmita Kumari was the star of the day scoring nine goals for the winners. The other scorers included Juliet Lawrance (4), Anamika (2), Krishna (2) and Matti Murmu (3).

On the other hand, Manipur reduced through Apabi Devi (2), Ibemcha Devi (2), Laxmi Devi (2), Chunibala Devi (1), Rebika Devi (1) and Santhi devi (1).

Earlier, All India University bagged the third position defeating Haryana 31-17. Chattishgarh and Maharastra begged the fifth and sixth spots respectively.

Railways also won the maximum number of individual prizes with Anita Yadav winning the best player award of the final while her team mate Matti Murmu bagged the best player award of the tournament.

Neelam Malik of All India University was adjudged the best goalkeeper of the championship.

Posted On: The Sentinel

Another Story:

36th Senior National Women’s Handball

Manipur meet Railways in final:

Guwahati, Dec. 17: Defending champions Railways will play Manipur in the final of the 36th Senior National Women’s Handball Championship on Tuesday.

Manipur beat a fighting Haryana 17-15 in the second semi-final on Monday evening to move into the final.

The Manipur girls led 9-8 in the first half.

Manipur were the lone entrant from the Northeast in the semi-finals, beating Chhattisgarh by a narrow margin (25-23) in the quarter-finals.

In a keenly contested match played at the Nehru Stadium, the girls from Manipur put up a better show but failed to convert several penalties that came their way, helping the Chhattisgarh team to remain in the hunt till the last.

In the first semi-final, played at Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phookan Indoor Stadium, the Railways staved off a spirited challenge by the All India University team to march into the final this evening. The Railways won 36-26.

Earlier, Railways defeated last year’s runners-up Maharashtra 27-8 in the quarter-final.

The university team beat Punjab 27-25 and Haryana got the better of Delhi 20-17 to move into the semi-final.

Maharashtra finished fifth beating Punjab 35-25 while Chhattisgarh ended sixth beating Delhi 26-21.

Tomorrow, Punjab will play Delhi for the seventh and eighth positions.

Meanwhile, the annual general meeting of the Handball Federation of India, which was held here, decided to bid for the Asian Championship in Kuwait on December 29.

Assam Handball Association president Kalyan Gogoi said Guwahati is in the running for hosting the meet along with Chandigarh.

Posted On: The Telegraph

36th Senior National Women’s Handball

Assam out of meet, Manipur in quarter-finals:

Guwahati, Dec. 16: Hosts Assam bowed out of the 36th Senior National Women’s Handball Championship on Sunday evening after drawing their last league encounter with Chhattisgarh 11-11, even as the sponsorship crisis deepened for the organisers.

Assam ended its Group C engagements with three losses and two wins. The hosts defeated Madhya Pradesh and Orissa but lost their matches against Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Chandigarh.

The quarter-finals line was also drawn up today. Defending champions Railways remained at the top of the list, closely followed by Maharashtra.

The quarter-finals draw will see Manipur, the only team from the Northeast in the last eight, taking on Chhattisgarh, All India University team will play Punjab, Delhi will meet Haryana and Railways will clash with Maharashtra.

However, it is not only the disappointment of the team not doing well that the organisers -- Assam Handball Association -- have to deal with.

The handball association’s president Kalyan Gogoi said the national meet has met with very lukewarm response, with major sponsors like Oil India Ltd (OIL), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC), Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) and industrial houses turning down the request for sponsorship.

“Of the Rs 18 lakh budget, only Assam Gas Company Ltd and DS Group has honoured our request. The others, like OIL, ONGC, NRL and IOC, have turned down our request. We would have been happy with whatever contributions they made. It is very sad as we were pinning our hopes on the big houses,” he rued.

Asked how the tournament was coping without support, Gogoi added, “It is because of well-wishers and support from fellow state associations like kabaddi, volleyball and GSA. Sadly, the Assam Cricket Association was very unhelpful when approached for help. The government has promised help of Rs 1.5 lakh but we will still fall short by nearly Rs 3 lakh”.

The lack of interest in the tournament is surprising, Gogoi said, because OIL, ONGC, NRL and IOC had extended over Rs 50 lakh towards the hosting of the international badminton meet.

A source in the oil sector said there was no question of turning down requests. “We always help in whatever way possible. Maybe there was very little time between applying for assistance and disbursal,” the source said.

Posted On: The Telegraph

30th Sub-Junior Boys National Volleyball

Manipur in quarter-finals:

Imphal, Dec 16: Manipur defeated Delhi 25-23, 25-17, 25-19 to advance into the quarter-finals of the 30th Sub Junior national Volleyball Championship at Renukoot in Uttar Pradesh as Group A runners-up.

Barring the defeat to Karnataka earlier in the competition, Manipur outclassed Uttaranchal, Bihar and Chhattisgarh besides Delhi in the group phase.

Source: The Sangai Express

36th Senior National Women’s Handball

Twin losses for Assam:

Guwahati, Dec 14: Hosts Assam on Friday opened their campaign with two losses in the 36th senior national women’s handball championship at Nehru Stadium here.

The home side went down fighting to Madhya Pradesh 15-17 in their Group C match and then to Himachal Pradesh 12-13. The Assam women’s best efforts went in vain, as their opponents scored over them both in speed and temperament.

Manipur, on the other hand, have won in the two matches they have played so far in Group D. Manipur edged past All India Universities 20-17 and then tamed Uttarakhand 20-4 this evening.

Tripura registered the biggest win of the day, thrashing Tamil Nadu 40-3 in a Group A match, signalling a challenge to defending champions Indian Railways who are pitted in the same group.

The Handball Federation of India today decided to bid for an Asian Championship to be held in Guwahati next year and also to organise some national coaching camps here.

Posted On: The Telegraph

36th Senior National Women’s Handball

Easy win for Railways on first day:

Guwahati, Dec. 13: Defending champions Indian Railways today opened their campaign in style, posting thumping wins over Gujarat and Tamil Nadu on the first day of the 36th Senior National Women’s Handball championship that got under way at Nehru Stadium and Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phookan Indoor Stadium on Thursdy.

The Railways women got the better of Gujarat 15-6 and Tamil Nadu 25-1 in two Group A league matches.

The first match of the tournament, played between Railways and Gujarat this morning, was a one-sided affair with the Railways clinching an easy win over their Western Railway rivals.

The first win failed to satisfy the hunger of the Railways women, and Tamil Nadu suffered a humiliating defeat in a post-lunch tie.

In two other pre-lunch matches, the Punjab women were held to a 16-16 draw by their Madhya Pradesh counterparts in a Group C match, while Kerala beat Uttaranchal 15-6 in a Group D tie.

In the afternoon, Manipur tamed Nagaland 25-3 in a Group D tie while Kerala lost to All India Universities 10-25.

Punjab registered their second win of the day over Himachal Pradesh 17-7 in the afternoon.

In the other matches in the afternoon, Maharastra routed Uttar Pradesh 22-6 in the only Group B match played today while Chattisgarh got the better of Madhya Pradesh in a Group C tie.

Around 450 players and officials from 24 states arrived here today to take part in the meet. The Delhi team is on its way. The teams from Karnataka, Goa and Pondicherry have confirmed their participation but are yet to report.

The 28 teams have been divided into four groups of seven teams each. The group champions will proceed to the semifinals of the six-day event.

Today’s results: Railways bt Gujarat 35-7 (gr-A), Punjab held Madhya Pradesh 16-16 (gr-C), Kerala bt Uttar Pradesh 25-6 (gr-D), Railways bt Tamil Nadu 25-1, Maharashtra bt Uttar Pradesh 22-6 (gr-B), Chattishgarh bt Madhya Pradesh 18-9 (gr-C), Manipur bt Nagaland 25-3 (gr-D), Punjab bt Himachal Pradesh 17-7, All India University bt Kerala 25-10, Jammu & Kashmir bt Gujarat 15-6.

Posted On: The Telegraph

Image Courtesy: Eastern Projections

Another Story:

30th Sub-Junior National Volleyball

Manipur register 2nd successive win:

Imphal, Dec 13: State spikers recorded their second successive win in the 30th Sub-Junior National Volleyball Championship with a 25-23, 25-10, 25-14 victory over Bihar at Renukoot in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.

Source: The Sangai Express

National School Games Football

Manipur beaten by Andaman in penalty shootout in final:

Imphal, Dec 12: Manipur went down to hosts Andaman and Nicobar Islands 7-6 in sudden death in the final of the 53rd National School Games (Under-17) Football competition on Wednesday.

After the regulation period ended with neither team scoring, tie-break was applied which also remained tied at 3-3 before the hosts ultimately prevailed in the sudden death.

Manipur had entered the summit round after a solitary goal win over Delhi.

Posted On: The Sangai Express