The 1st Manipur State Pomsae Taekwondo Championship 2026 was disrupted at the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex in Imphal after protesters gathered at the venue and opposed the conduct of the event amid a bandh.
Security personnel fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters and bring the situation under control. The disruption occurred as the championship was scheduled to take place at the sports complex, where Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh also attended the programme.
Earlier, the state Taekwondo association had appealed for relaxation of the bandh to allow the championship to be held. However, the protest at the venue disrupted the programme, prompting security personnel to use tear gas.
The incident unfolded against the backdrop of protests and shutdown activity in the state. The association’s appeal had sought an exemption for the sporting event, but the gathering of protesters at the venue affected its proceedings.