IMPHAL, JULY 16: Manipur, the sporting powerhouse has good reason to celebrate because the tiny state has created history by sending six sportspersons to represent the country in the Olympics Games to be held at Rio de Janeiro from August 5 to 21.
The six sportspersons are weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu(women’s 48kg), Laishram Bombayla Devi (women’s archery), Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam and Anuradha Thokchom (women’s field hockey), Khadangbam Kothajit and Chinglensana Kangujam (men’s field hockey). Altogether 121 sportspersons will represent India in 15 sports disciplines in 66 events.
Laishram Bombayla Devi would be participating in the Olympic Games for the three consecutive times since Sydney Olympics in 2008, while men’s hockey player Khadangbam Kothajit is also participating for the second time since London Olympics in 2012.Interestingly, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam has been named the captain of the 16 member Indian women hockey team in place of Ritu Rani, who was dropped from the squad allegedly because of poor form and attitude problems, two days ahead of their departure for USA (on Thursday night) where the Indian team will play practice games against Canada and USA before reaching Rio de Janeiro on July 29.
"I am so very happy but was so surprised when the names were being announced as I never expected (because some seniors are already there in the team). But to play in the Olympics was always a dream,” says Sushila on phone prior to their departure for USA.
On Sushila’s success in becoming not only an Olympian but a national team captain, former Olympian Kshetrimayum Thoiba Singh who represented Indian men’s hockey team in Seoul Olympics in 1988, said, “I did not want to comment much as she was selected the best and I hope her team will do the best.”
Manipur's participation in hockey is not a new thing in Olympics, though. The state's first hockey Olympian is P Nilkamal Singh, who played in the Los Angeles Games in 1984. India finished sixth in the Games. It may be mentioned that five Manipuri players including the country’s most decorated pugilist MC Mary Kom participated in the London Olympics in 2012.
