In an effort to promote sports awareness among students and young people in Ukhrul district, a one-day sports awareness seminar was held at Hunphun Shanao Long Hall, Awontang, in Ukhrul town on October 27.
Organised by the HAU Wung Sports Foundation in collaboration with the Hunphun Katamnao Long (HKL) and the Thawaijao Hungpung Young Students’ Organisation (THYSO), the seminar focused on academic opportunities through sports, sports as a career, and women’s participation in sport.
Moderated by Iknguira L Shimray, the seminar began with a prayer by Tonreishim H A, assistant pastor of VBC, TNBC. Longreiyo Varam, managing director of the HAU Wung Sports Foundation, delivered the welcome and keynote address. He highlighted the foundation’s mission as supporting sports development programmes that empower athletes, institutions, and communities.
Dr Oimps Lunghar, project research scientist at the Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras, and a SAI-NSNIS certified badminton coach, spoke on “Creating Academic Opportunities through Sports.” He urged students not to treat academics and sports as opposing choices, saying that each person should choose a path based on their abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
Sports, he said, can strengthen academic life by building discipline, mental stability, leadership, confidence, and consistency. He called for wider exposure, scholarships, and sports quotas, warning that a lack of information should not prevent young people from realising their potential.
Careers beyond playing
Dr Ninglum Zimik, assistant professor and programme coordinator of Sports Management at Bhawanipur Global Campus, Kolkata, spoke on “Sports as a Career.” She said a sporting career need not be limited to becoming a professional athlete.
The sector, she explained, offers opportunities in coaching, sports media, sports technology, physiotherapy, sports physiology, and sports sociology. She noted that many people love sports but fail to explore the professional avenues available within the field.
Dr Zimik advised young athletes to pursue academic qualifications alongside sport, saying this could create wider opportunities after retirement or in the event of injury. She also stressed the need to improve grassroots training methods in the North East.
Breaking barriers for women
Worleichan A Shimray, a PhD research scholar at the Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, Manipur University, and a national badminton umpire, addressed the topic “Women in Sports.”
She said women athletes continue to face body shaming, educational pressure, social and cultural stereotypes, lack of parental support, safety concerns, inadequate facilities, and a shortage of role models.
Calling for an end to body shaming, she said traditional and patriarchal attitudes that confine women to domestic roles must change. She recommended greater encouragement through sports festivals, proper education, coaching opportunities, and the promotion of female coaches.
Panel discussion
A panel discussion on “Sports in Our Tangkhul Community: Challenges, Opportunities and the Way Forward,” hosted by Dr Oimps Lunghar, followed the technical sessions.
Among the panelists were Reisangmi Vashum, mentor at the Khelo India Ukhrul District Centre and former India international footballer; Ramreichan Keishing, president of the Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS); and Horthingshang CS, national track-and-field athlete. The discussion stressed the need for the community’s strong interest in sports to be supported by better information, infrastructure, training, and career guidance.
The seminar concluded with a vote of thanks by HKL president Thotdharrin Shingnaisui and a closing prayer by Rev E Shaiza of PBC, TNBC.
