Source: The Sangai Express / Manipur Information Centre
New Delhi, December 20:
Sixteen States namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Delhi, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra, Manipur, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and Uttranchal will take part in the three-day 13th National Thang-Ta Competition 2006 commencing from December 23 at Calangute Sports Association Ground, Calangute in Goa.
Goa Thang-Ta Association in collaboration of Thang-Ta Federation of India will organize the 13th edition.
In the last year's edition held in Gujarat, Manipur was the champion and Jammu & Kashmir was Runners-up.
Earlier, the Federation organized the National competition in Assam, Delhi, Haryana, Maharastra, Manipur, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
The Federation has 28 State units in the whole country.
About 300 players including 95 women from all over the country will vie for 90 each of gold, silver and bronze in different weight categories and five different game styles namely Phunnaba-1, Phunnaba �2, Phunnaba-3 and Phunnaba4.Elaborating the details about the game styles, Huidrom Dinachandra, Secretary General of Thang-Ta Federation of India said Phunnaba-1 is the fight between two opponents with Cheibi (Stick covered with leather) and Chungoi (Shield).
Here, kick is not permitted.
Phunnaba �2 is a fight with Cheibi without Chungoi.
Kick is allowed in this style.
Phunnaba-3 is about fight using Khonglon Khutlon (Techniques/arts of hands and feet.
Phunnaba-4 is about Thang Leiteng Hainaba (stylized artistic movements with swords and shield).
About the development of Thang-Ta games, Dinachandra said the Federation whose head office is at Aryapura, Delhi is pressing hard to the authorities concerned for recognition of the game in national games and other international events.
.S.CJamir, Governor of Goa will be the chief guest of the opening ceremony of the 13th National Thang-Ta Competition 2006 in the presence of Shantaram Laxman Naik, Rajya Sabha MP from Goa and Dr Thokchom Meinya, Lok Sabha MP from Manipur who will grace the function as President and Special Guest respectively.