6th Women’s International Polo Tournament underway in Manipur

Imphal, Feb. 15 (EMN): Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh inaugurated the 6th Women’s International Polo Tournament at the Mapal Kangjeibung, the oldest living polo ground in the world, in Imphal on Wednesday.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the tournament, Biren Singh welcomed the participating teams including the Indian women’s polo team, international teams from Luxembourg and South Africa to the state. Mentioning that the Women’s International Polo Tournament is being organised at Mapal Kangjeibung every year, he stated that the 6th edition is being organised after a gap of two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Continuing that Manipur is famous for ‘Polo’ and the state is regarded as the birthplace of modern polo, he added that the people of Manipur are proud of their forefathers for having gifted this game to the world. Such a tournament would not only help in projecting the state as the birthplace of the game, but would also serve as a platform to promote the importance of preserving the game and the endangered breed of Manipuri Pony.

Biren further stated Sagol Kangjei is not just a game, but it also symbolises the role of Manipuri pony and the techniques of warfare possessed by the Manipuri soldiers in defending the sovereignty of Manipur during the olden days. Manipuri ponies had always been a part of the state’s civilisation and its culture, he added.

Mentioning that Chief Minister’s Sagol Kangei Championship had been started during the Sangai Festival 2022, he expressed that the uniqueness is the use of horse, which is wild in nature, as a part of the game. Considering the importance of preserving the endangered horse breed “pony”, he said the Manipur Police department had introduced the Sagol Police. Apart from this, 10 horses will be reared at each Battalion of Manipur Police.

Concluding his speech, the Chief Minister expressed hope that the tournament would go a long way in establishing the state as a polo tourism destination in India.

On the other hand, Manipur’s Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Govindas Konthoujam stated that different Sagol Kangjei and Polo tournaments had been started at various places of the state under the initiative of the Chief Minister, to promote the game and to preserve the endangered horse breed.

The Minister continued that many teams from different countries had come to the state and participated in polo tournaments organised on different occasions.

‘It shows that the game is becoming popular day by day, which is a dream come true for Chief Minister i N Biren Singh,’ he said.

During the inaugural function, the Chief Minister also hoisted the flag of All Manipur Polo Association. Band display by 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles band and showcase of Manipur Indigenous Martial Arts- Thang Ta and Pung Cholom were also highlights of the inaugural programme.