IMPHAL, July 29: Hockey India awarded Manipur Hockey with the “Best State Award 2011-12” during its July 23 annual general body meeting. The award includes a grant of Rs 5 lakhs and a citation.
This was informed by Manipur Hockey president, former Olympian Ksh Thoiba Singh at the conference hall of the MOA, Khuman Lampak today.
Briefing media persons on the achievement, the former Olympian said that Hockey India had selected 15 states from the country, with Manipur and Tripura representing the North East. The state was selected for the award after the Hockey India had scrutinised the state association’s various programmes including tournaments, coaching camps during 2011-12, he said.
As part of the first phase of the grant, the Hockey India has already granted Rs 2.5 lakhs. He continued that the amount will be utilised in organizing different coaching and other development programmes in the state.
He informed the media persons, that Hockey India will be organizing a junior national championship soon.
Experts from the Federation International Hockey will be coaching several NIS diploma holder below-40 years on the basics of modern hockey techniques during the said national championship.
He added that NIS diploma holders from the state Rinas and Napolean will also participate in the said coaching.
Techniques and game styles have seen a sea of change in recent times and the participation of the two NIS diploma holders from the state in such coachings under FIH experts will immensely help the state players.
Meanwhile, regarding the dispute on whether hockey player of the state, Kh Kothajit Singh should be considered as an Olympian, he clarified that both Sarvanjit and Kothajit who were both selected as stand byes in the Indian Hockey squad for the London Olympics and as such he is an Olympian.
He continued that the last time a state player had represented the Indian Hockey team at an Olympic games is himself which was more than 20 years back.
He continued that instead of deliberating on whether Kothajit will get the chance to actually come out to play, people should instead wish for his team’s success.
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