“A perfection of means, and confusion of aims, seems to be our main problem.”. - Albert Einstein

The talent pool does not consist only of doctors and engineer nor only of lawyer or politicians. Who does not know Ronaldo or David Bekham who don the soccer world? Is there an individual who do not know Mike Tyson? Perhaps you might know Sachin and Dravid too. I even know of Sania Mirza - the Indian tennis dol. Do we not know of Tiger Wood or Anju Bobby George? A young girl run so fast and someone commented she is the next PT Usha. I feel proud to know at least all this name. But does anyone of us know who is Mary Kom - the don of women boxing and have you heard of Surjalata, Tingongleima, Sanggai Chanu who conquer the hockey world in Indian women hockey team. Where goes our Boxing don Dingko Singh? What about the hockey men Neel Kamal, Thoiba, and Tiken? Does every one of us know Mr.Kishan Singh who recently won the first position in 65 kg group in junior level, the 41st Asian Bodybuilding Championship in Shanghai, China which was held from 28th August - 3rd September, 2007.You might also not know Mr.Bobby who made the state proud in Body building, who recently participated on behalf of Assam? There are many footballers from the state who plays for other states too. They have nothing wrong as everyone strive for livelihood. Where goes our strong lady - Kunjarani Devi. She has earned uncountable number of medals for India.

Are they not talented? Why don’t we know them? This is paralyzed we in the state facing today. Neither the government nor the people in the state try to recognize them. Do you think a simple medal is enough to promote our sports talent? A banquet party and a garland is all what we give to sports talent. Do we know that nobody can fight nor run without proper food. We need a proper track to run; we need proper shoe to wear. Do we think that a medal and garland is all enough to fulfill all this hunger? How can we become Mr. Universe without eating the requisite food .The government, along with the people in the state should try to promote the living sports talent in the state. A special recognition must be given to individual who don the sports field from the state. A proper infrastructure must be provided to mould the talent pool.

If we are late in recognizing this talent pool which is given to us, the future of great sports person from the state can’t be seen even though we posses such a vast talent pool. You might also have seen the degradation in this talent. I have come across a young boy who wanted to become a soccer idol but was restricted by parents saying…”Houjik matamsida sanaraga kari kanadoino...Nakhoidagee hennba afaba sanaroi mayam ama mangduna leire... Adugee sarukpudi lairik pao natraga sipahi khanba yaorucho… ‘’ With this mindset do we think that we will be able to bring out the best in an individual’s sports talent. Is it that what the parents said is wrong? Perhaps to me it’s not wrong; they saw the example lying before them of all our great sports personnel.

A state must take such an initiative that a proper sponsorship must be given to such talented individuals. People in the state must be involved with their heart and mind to generate the facilities through various means like organization sponsorship, keeping impress account through donation etc. Like stars, we must be promoted with posters and campaigns throughout the state. A thorough news publication should be given in leading visual media world. Someday, somehow, everyone will recognize.

Games and sports are the core competency for our state, Manipur. It’s not only the technology advance which is termed as development. We can excel our best to put ourselves in global world through sports. Sports also bring about a healthy life which we hardly see in the present world. It also helps us to be free from communal riots and abuse to drug which most youngster are facing today. A healthy sports state will have a healthy life. The only weapon we had which we can show ourselves to the global environment is our core competency in sports. If you see any of the Indian sports keeping aside cricket, Manipur players always excel. How many players are there in Indian soccer eleven and see the boxing ring, many Manipur players dominate it, see the body building we have good leaders in that too. Don’t forget we have a tactical hockey player in Indian women team. I do remember Kunjarani, who lifted up 1 crore plus Indians. I hope you to remember.

So after seeing what is our strength, is anyone ready to excel in our core competency or even if you can’t, can we join hands in uplifting the ones who will bring pride for the state and the nation. Will I be a wrong person, if I thought that development is not just in terms of technology, it’s all about how far you can put yourself in this global environment. Status is not all about doctors and engineer. It’s about how we can make others to keep up with what we do. We have enough good academic institutes, so perhaps coming up with more academic institutes is not the only means to uplift our status. Make sports an academic curriculum and practice sports as what we learn and do in school. The government should try to set up sports institute where we can train lots of sports’ aspirant. Many countries, for example Brazil, set up football academy where children come and learn soccer as school. There are tennis institute where tennis aspirant will come as student of tennis .So why can’t we practice such a thing in the state level? I will not be wrong, if I said instead of coming up of new colleges of science and arts or commerce or any other subjects, it will be fruitful if we can come up sports institute. Government of India has provided sports authority of India which hardly seems to produce quality players.

I know narrating to change is easy and to imply practically is difficult. It may take thousands of years to change, but it will change little early if we start from now instead of waiting D day to change. How can we start the change? It’s you to start first! I am already started! If you see crowd going, perhaps you are late.

“The illiterate in this 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot change”. - Alvin Toffler