Seikhohao Tuboi Renews Contract With Shillong Lajong FC

Shillong Lajong Football Club has extended the current contract of Seikhohao Tuboi with the club for the upcoming I-League season.

The Manipuri striker, who joined Shillong Lajong in the 2008-2009 season has inked a new deal to commit his future to North East I-League Club, Shillong Lajong FC.

Tuboi, who has been nursing an injury which he suffered from the 2011-12 season, has been a prolific scorer in front of goal for the Reds, and has always been a crowd’s favourite. Always alert in front of goal ,Tuboi played a stellar role in Lajong’s 2008-09 I-League 2^nd Division campaign and was instrumental in guiding Shillong Lajong FC  to the I-League in 2009-10.It was also his unforgettable goal scoring heroics (including the historic “bicycle kick” goal against Dempo), which saw Shillong Lajong reach the finals of the Federation Cup in 2009a moment which  would always be etched forever in the fans’ memory.

His development though, was cut short by a prolonged injury, which saw him sitting out of the 2012-13 season as well.

However, a well structured and intensive health regime from the Club’s medical staff has ensured that the 24 year old Tuboi regain full fitness and will be a part of the team in the upcoming season.

Commenting on the new deal with the Club, Tuboi reiterated his eagerness to don the colours of the Club once again and said, “I cannot wait to get back on the field and start scoring goals again”, a visibly happy Tuboi commented.

Tuboi has started training with the first team, and his addition will certainly add depth to the Lajong forward line.

Two boxers from Northeast in World Championships team 

Veteran Manipuri boxer Suranjoy Singh failed to find a place in the Indian team in 52kg for the World Championships to be held from October 11-27 in Almaty in Kazakhstan.

Another Manipuri boxer Thokchom Nanao Singh was, however, picked by the selectors in 49kg after two-day trials in Patiala which concluded on Wednesday. 

Assam's Shiv Thapa also got selected in 56kg category, making it two boxers from Northeast in the World Championships.

L Devendro Singh of Manipur was forced out of the trials due to a cut above the eye.

The Indian Team: Vijender Singh (75kg); Thokchom Nanao Singh (49kg); Madan Lal of Haryana (52kg); Shiva Thapa (56kg); Vikas Malik (60kg); Manoj Kumar (64kg); Mandeep Jangra (69kg), Sumit Sangwan (81kg); Manpreet Singh (91kg); Satish (+91kg).

Controversy involving All Manipur Sepaktakraw Association has erupted

Controversy erupted after All Manipur Sepaktakraw Association (AMSTA) decided to expel four players from Manipur, who were selected in the Indian team for the ongoing Sepaktakraw World Super Series in New Delhi, for attending national camp without informing it.

AMSTA had wanted an open trial for the ISTAF Super Series first leg in New Delhi while Sepaktakraw Federation of India (STFI) refused to do so on the ground the players to represent India would be selected from among who have been in the national camp in New Delhi for more than six months under funding from the Sports Ministry.     

Akash Singh, a member of Indian men's team, and Kh Bijeta, Kh Omita and O Chaoba of women's team, were on Wednesday expelled for 10 years by AMSTA for taking part in the national camp without informing it. 

According to a report in the timesofindia.indiatimes.com a livid STFI has decided to take action against the Manipur unit in its executive committee meeting on Saturday for expelling four players who are taking part in the ongoing Sepaktakraw World Super Series.

"They don't have the authority to expel the Indian players. What do they (AMSTA) think of themselves? How can they stop a player from turning up for the country? Do they think they are bigger than the country?" Dahiya asked. 

"We are having our executive committee meeting on August 31 and we will take action for sure. We cannot remain silent if a player has been expelled for doing national duty. It's is unacceptable," he added. 

AMSTA president Kh Dorendra, who is also a deputy president of STFI, had on Wednesday said that the state unit had asked its players not to take part in the national camp as the federation had not accepted its request for an open trial. 

"We (AMSTA) have wanted a selection trial for the ISTAF World Super Series first leg in Delhi and second leg in Thailand (September 26-29) and also Kings Cup to be held in Thailand (from September 16-22) so that the country can have the best players to prepare for 2014 Asian Games," Dorendra had said. 

"We wrote a letter regarding this to STFI secretary after a decision by AMSTA executive committee but there was no trial and the team was selected without trial. Akash, Bijeta, Omita and Chaoba took part in the camp which began in Delhi from August 11 without informing us and so AMSTA decided to expel them for 10 years," he had said. 

Three footballers from Northeast included in Indian team for SAFF Championships

National football coach Wim Koevermans named his squad of 20 for the September 1-11 SAFF Championships in Kathmandu. Among these, Gouramangi Singh (Manipur), Jeje Lalpekhlua (Mizoram) and Nirmal Chhetri (Sikkim) are from Northeast.

India play Pakistan in their first match in the SAFF Championships.

The Squad:

Goalkeepers: Subrata Paul, Karanjit Singh, Sandip Nandy.

Defenders: Nirmal Chettri, Arnab Mondal, Gouramangi Singh, Raju Gaikwad, Sandesh Jhingan, Mohanraj Nalappan.

Midfielders: Syed Rahim Nabi, Mehtab Hossain, Arata Izumi, Lenny Rodriguez, Alwyn George, Jewel Raja Shaikh, Francis Fernandes.

Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh, Dawson Fernandes, Jeje Lalpekhlua.

Head Coach: Wim Koevermans.

Manipuri archer Bombayla returns home after World Cup triumph

The triumphant Indian women's recurve team, which clinched the World Cup Stage IV crown in Poland, returned home in the wee hours on Tuesday to a lukewarm response.

The archery team, comprising Bombayla Devi, Deepika Kumari and Rimil Buriuly, were later felicitated at the resident of President of Archery Association of India (AAI), VK Malhotra.

The archers were, however, a little disappointed that no top officials had come to receive them at the Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi.

"We are a bit disappointed. If we compare with other sports, there are lot of people receiving the players at the airport. This is a very big achievement, we defeated Korea. It would have been great had we received a big welcome but its okay our job is to do better and we will do it," Rimil said.

Bombayla played down the incident, though. "We were very tired after a long journey and had a flight to catch. The electronic media would just not let us breathe. Deepika got so harassed that she got worked up and was in tears," she said.

Malhotra, who is also the acting president of Indian Olympic Association (IOA), praised the women archers for their winning effort.

"It is a great effort by the archers. They have made India proud," Malhotra said.

The senior BJP leader, however, said that they wanted the team to get all the attention and so no top official had gone to receive them at the airport.

"We were having the welcome lined up for the team at my residence. Also the trainers had accompanied the team. I didn't want only the officials to be shown on the channels. It should be the archers only, it is their day," Malhotra said.

Asked about rewards, Malhotra said: "That will be discussed with the federation."

The archers left for Aurangabad later, where the national camp will be held.

The Indian women's recurve team on Sunday had defeated the formidable South Koreans, comprising -- Yun Ok-hee, Ki Bo-bae, and Joo Hyun-jung -- 219-215 to clinch the World Cup Stage IV crown in Poland.

It was the Indian women's second consecutive World Cup title, following their success in Medellin (Colombia) last month.

Chekrovolu Swuro lone sportsperson from Northeast recommended for Arjuna Award for 2013

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award: Ronjan Sodhi (Shooting)

Arjuna Award: Chekrovolu Swuro (Archery), Virat Kohli (Cricket), P V Sindhu (Badminton), Gaganjeet Bhullar (Golf), Joshna Chinnappa (Squash), Mouma Das (Table tennis), Kavita Chahal (Boxing), Rupesh Shah (Billiards & Snooker), Abhijeet Gupta (Chess), Saba Anjum (Hockey), Rajkumari Rathore (Shooting), Neha Rathi (Wrestling), Dharmender Dalal (Wrestling) and Amit Kumar Saroha (Athletics-Para).

Dronacharya Award for coaches: Poornima Mahato (Archery), Mahavir Singh (Boxing) and Narinder Singh Saini (Hockey). 

Dronacharya Awards for Lifetime Contribution in Coaching: K P Thomas (Athletics) and Raj Singh (Wrestling) 

Dhyan Chand Awards for Lifetime Contribution to Development of Sports: Mary D’Souza Sequeira (Athletics),  Syed Ali (Hockey), Anil Mann (Wrestling) and Girraj Singh (Para Sports-Athletics).

Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar (for Contribution to Sports Development by Entities Other than Sportspersons and Coaches); Dr U K Mishra, Founder and President, National Sports Academy, Allahabad (Community Sports Identification and Nurturing of Budding Young Talent), Services Sports Control Board (Financial Support for Sports Excellence), Pullela Gopichand Academy of Badminton, Hyderabad (Establishment and Management of Sports Academies of Excellence) and Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (Employment of Sportspersons and sports welfare measures).

Selection Committee for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards: Michael Ferreira (Chairman), Limba Ram, V Devarajan, Zafar Iqbal, Vandana Rao, Anjali M Bhagwat, Indu Puri, Shakti Singh, Ravi Shastri, Kripa Shankar Patel and Surinder Khanna.

Apart from a medal and a citation, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardee will receive a cash prize of Rs.7.5 lakh.  

Arjuna, Dronacharya and Dhyan Chand Awardees will receive statuettes, citations and cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh each.  Recipients of Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar will be given trophies.

The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a function in Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 31.

Nanjing Youth Asian Games: August 16-24

Two sportspersons from North East took part in Youth Asian Games in Nanjing, China and won a medal each.
Monjam Kavita Devi won a bronze in girls 44kg judo competition. The judoka from Manipur beat Karchayeva Aida of Kazakhstan in bronze medal contest.

Mizo boy T Lalchhanhima won another bronze in boys 56kg category weightlifting competition. He lifted a total of 228kg (100 in snatch and 128 in clean and jerk).

Both participated as Independent Olympic Athlete under the banner of Olympic Council of Asia as India is serving ban from the International Olympic Council.

Mary Kom gets Khel Ratna; Sarita Arjuna

New Delhi, July 29: For the first time since the inception of the Rajiv Khel Ratna Award in 1991, three sportspersons -- four-time world boxing champion Mangte Chungneijang Marykom, Olympic bronze medallists boxer Vijender Singh and wrestler Sushil Kumar -- will receive the country`s highest sporting honour.

Mary will be the second sporstperson from the state to receive the prestigious award after weightlifter Nameirakpam Kunjarani.

The only other time more than one sportsperson was bestowed the award was in 2002-03 when shooter Anjali Vedpathak and athlete K.M. Beenamol shared it.

Meanwhile, chief minister of Manipur, O Ibobi Singh and his SPF government expressed happiness over the selection of Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Laishram Sarita for the Arjuna Award.

The chief minister said that four-time world boxing champion May Kom and international player Sarita were really rare and talented players. He expressed his pride at getting the most prestigious sports award by the players of the state and also asked the young players to concentrate and become good players while assuring that sports would surely bring peace to the state.

N Biren Singh, state minister for youth affairs and sports also expressed his happiness over the awards to be given to the players of the state and felt proud of such achievements by the state’s boxing players.

The sports ministry also announced the list of 15 Arjuna Award winners Wednesday.
India`s opening batsman Gautam Gambhir, world No.6 badminton player Saina Nehwal and trap shooter Ronjan Sodhi, who equalled the world record, are among those selected for the Arjuna Award.

The selection committee headed by former table tennis player Indu Puri also selected Olympic medallist Sushil`s coach Satpal and former All England Badminton champion and Saina`s coach Pullela Gopichand for the Dronacharya Award.

The prize money for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dronacharya and Dhyanchand Awards have been increased.

Khel Ratna prize money has been hiked from Rs.500,000 to Rs.750,000 while Arjuna, Dronacharya and Dhyanchand Awards prize money has been increased from Rs.300,000 to Rs.500,000.

List of awardees:
Rajiv Khel Ratna: M.C. Marykom (boxer), Vijender Kumar (boxer) and Sushil Kumar (wrestling)
Arjuna Award: Mangal Singh Champia (archery), Sinimol Paulose (athletics), Saina Nehwal (badminton), L. Sarita Devi (boxing), Tania Sachdeva (chess), Gautam Gambhir (cricket), Ignatius Tirkey (hockey), Surinder Kaur (hockey), Pankaj Shirsat (kabaddi), Satish Joshi (rowing), Ranjan Sodhi (shooting), Poulami Ghatak (table tennis), Yogeshwar Dutt (wrestling), G.L. Yadav (yachting), Parul Parmar (badminton disabled) .

Dronacharya Award: Baldev Singh (hockey), Jaidev Bisht (boxing), Satpal (wrestling) and Pullela Gopichand (badminton) .

Dhyanchand Award: Ishar Singh Deol (athletics), Satbir Singh Dahya (wrestling).

Controversy over formation of 'Hockey Manipur'

Manipur Olympic Association (MOA) on the one hand and Manipur Hockey Association (MHA) and Manipur Women’s Hockey Association (MWHA) on the other are at loggerheads over the formation of 'Hockey Manipur' to run the game in the state.

Manipur Hockey Association (MHA), along with Manipur Women’s Hockey Association (MWHA) had constituted an interim unified body — Hockey Manipur — in a joint meeting on June 28 with MWHA president N Momon Devi as president and Th Manihar Singh as secretary general.

However, the Manipur Olympic Association on June 29 formed another ad hoc committee called Hockey Manipur, with MOA vice-president BC Singh as chairman and Olympian Ksh. Thoiba Singh as convenor.

The MOA in a statement said an Indian Olympic Association instruction on June 1 had necessitated the move. The Manipur Hockey Association and Manipur Women’s Hockey Association's membership to MOA was also suspended.

Hemjit finishes fifth in Asian Youth Games

Yumnam Hemjit Meitei was the only Manipuri in the Indian team in the inaugural Asian Youth Games (June 29-July 7) in Singapore.

He finished fifth in the 3 metre springboard diving final held on June 30 with 397.70 points. Wu Dongliang of China was first with 626.60 points, Alharbi Rashed of Kuwait second with 474.95, Cho Sung In of South Korea third with 474.05 and Ali Ospan of Kazakhstan fourth with 417.80 points.

Hemjit stood fourth in the preliminary rounds.