Unrest in Manipur threat to future of sports as players suffer

Sumit Bhattacharya| NT

Bengaluru: Manipur's sports administration is in dire straits due to the ongoing unrest, with players largely from underprivileged backgrounds bearing the brunt of the crisis.

The turmoil has deprived them of their right to play. Activist Rinni tells News Trail of the different challenges they face.

The activist, working primarily for the Kukies due to entry restrictions in the Meitei area, expressed her struggles to reach out to the people.

She highlighted that emerging players require more infrastructure development, a need currently unmet due to the unrest in Manipur. Dinesh, director of Tripura People Foundation, based in Bengaluru, also painted a bleak picture of the future of sports in Manipur.

He said, "Manipur sport is a past era now". His concern extended across all games, including boxing, fencing, judo, cricket, football and badminton.

Dinesh stressed on the uncertainty surrounding the future of sports in Manipur. He believed that the actual situation on the field could only be understood once the issues subside.

Pointing out that most players come from impoverished families, he warned of a potential shift already underway. He explained, "If they can't access sports, it is obvious that they will shift."

Essential services such as physiotherapy, water therapy, gym facilities, and medical doctors are currently inaccessible in Manipur due to indefinite shutdowns.

More suffering means at least getting ten years back in the field of sports, and despite knowing these all, players, and emerging performers have to put it up until any consolidated solution comes out.

Dinesh urged both local and central administrations to intervene and find a solution, or admit their failure to do so. He poignantly asked, "For how long will aspiring players suffer?"

This plea underscores the urgent need for action to salvage the sports sector in Manipur and ensure the dreams of countless young athletes do not go unfulfilled.