Imphal, June 04: Fencing is one of the sports discipline dominated by the Manipuris since the Fencing Association of India (FAI) holding regular national championships.

Besides the national championships the Manipuri fencers also doing sterling performances in the National games since its introduced for the first time in the 3rd national games held at Pune in 1994.At the recent junior and senior national championships held at different places of Punjab the Manipur contingent bagged the prestigious overall team champion title besides best fencer title by young Maibam Usharani Devi.

Usharani (16) daughter of Maibam Tombi Singh and Maibam Ongbi Pakpi Devi of Ningomthong Kitna Panung student of 12th standard creates history by doing sterling performances in the recent national championships.

She collected three gold medals and one bronze medal from individual and team events.

In the last few years Usharani had garnered as many as 15 gold medals, 3 silver medals and 4 bronze medals from various national championships and national games.

Usharani started fencing from 1999 June 10 under the care and guidance of international fencer Haobam Manglemba.

Since then she has through preserving efforts and full support of the family distinguished herself as a new rising star of the country.

In her first ever national exposure at the 1st sub junior national championships 1999 held at SMS stadium, Jaipur Usharani bagged one gold medal.

Again in 2000 at the 7th junior national held at Rajiv Gandhi stadium, Pondichari she stood first and within a gape of only four month Usharani played in senior national at Nashik and back home with a bronze medal followed by another gold medal from Junior national, Karnataka 2001.Usharani was also among the gold winning Manipur team at the 31st national games, Punjab 2001 December.

In March last year at the 9th junior national at Patila she again collected two gold medals for Manipur.

In recognition of her talent Fencing Association of India (FAI) selected Usharani for the world junior championships held at Antalya/Turkey in April 2002 and commonwealth championships 2002 in Australia.

Usharani also participated senior championships at Patiala in connection with the women empowerment year 2001 organized by the sports authority of India (SAI) in 2002 January and collected one silver medal and one bronze medal.

In the same year at the 12th senior national held at Pune in March 2002 she garnered two gold medals.

In the national games, Hydrabad December 2002 Usharani secured one gold medal and one bronze medal for Manipur.

Earlier groomed by the sports authority of India (SAI) regional centre Imphal Usharani is presently receiving training from the Youth Affairs and Sports Department's regular coaching programme inside the Khuman Lampak sports complex Imphal preparing for the Asian championships being held at Bangkok shortly.

Now games and sports being given a high profile all over the world Manipur need a proper sports policy for the ever increasing sports talents.

Comment