IT News
Imphal, May 6:
Two Manipuri boys who have been selected to represent India among the Under 23, nine (9) players of the country to participate in the Men and Women Muaythai World Championship scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi from May 26 to June 4 this year area desperately searching for financial assistance sparing their practicing hours as the expenditure has to be borne by them.
United Muaythai Association –India (UMAI) is yet to be given recognition and the association has no funds to assist the Indian players. The Association selected nine (9) U-23 male players and 13 Senior Elite Class players of different weight categories to attend the world championship organize by the International Federation of Muaythai Association (IFMA).
Twenty two years old Sogolshem Moramba , son of S. Dina from Soibam leikai , Imphal East and Twenty three years old Neo Thongam Meitei , son of Th. Joynanda Meitei of Singjamei Makha Khongnang Pheidekpi , were among the nine under-23 male players selected from Manipur. Both have record of wining gold medal and silver medal at various state level and national level championships.
Sagolshem Moramba , won gold in 2017 at Muaythai National Championship held at Shillong. In 2018 he won Silver medal at the Muaythai National Championship held at Pune and in 2021 he won gold in the Muaythai National Championship held at Imphal in 67 kg category, even though his weight was just 63.5 kg.
Neo Thongam Meitei won gold medal in 2021 Muaythai National Championship held here in Imphal in 71 Kg category. Earlier, in 2021 he won gold medal in State level Boxing Championship held at Khuman Lampak, In the same year he won bronze medal at the State level Invitation Boxing Championship held at Mayang Imphal and in 2019 he won Gold medal in State level Boxing Championship held at Khuman Lampak.
Talking to Imphal Times , both the players said that they need around rupees four (4) lakh to attend the world championship for travel and accommodation expenses plus fighting gears for the Muaythai. Now as both the families are middle class families they are now struggling hard to meet the expenses. Family members managed to borrow some but still they are worried on whether they could attend the championship or not as they don’t have enough money. Both the parents of families are busy asking money from relatives and to mortgaging their property to make sure that their children attend the championship to bring laurels of the country as well as Manipur.
As of now the Manipur Muathai Association is not recognized and no fund can be arranged by the government.
Sagolshem Moramba said that he was selected to attend the Muaythai Championship at Thailand last year but have to miss it due to lack of money.
Families of both the members told this newspaper to convey the message to the government of Manipur to find a way to help the two boys in attending the championship even though there is no fund allotted for the event. They also requested people to help the two players in attending the championship.
