00:00Manipur is a vibrant hub of both traditional and modern sports, nurturing top athletes while
00:08proudly preserving its rich heritage of indigenous games and martial arts.
00:14Among its standout traditions is a naga wrestling, a powerful blend of strength,
00:22skill and community spirit passed down through generations.
00:30In this intense full-contact sport, wrestlers grip each other's loinclothes,
00:38striving to bring their opponent down above the knee.
00:42But it is more than just a contest.
00:45It is a living celebration of resilience, unity and cultural pride.
00:51The first thing is a traditional game.
00:59The traditional game is a different community.
01:05The indigenous wrestling is more than a sport.
01:34It is a vital thread in the region's social and cultural fabric.
01:40It brings communities together while nurturing discipline, perseverance and leadership among
01:47the youth.
01:49These traditional events see enthusiastic local participation and play a key role in preserving
01:55the area's rich heritage and customs.
01:59Wrestling brings peace among the people.
02:04Wrestling brings closer to one another because in the past decades, in the past centuries,
02:11we Nagas as we are the headhunters killing one another.
02:15After the emergence of the Christianity, after the emergence of the modern education, people
02:22come to realize that killing one another is good for nothing.
02:26So, like, they have a heart to come together and this wrestling invites one another to the
02:35neighbouring village to come and visit other villages to have wrestling together like this
02:42tournament.
02:44Manipur not only preserves its traditional wrestling roots but also champions the spirit of football
02:50by nurturing young talent.
02:52In Ukrul, we met 33-year-old Nagaraypam K. Stone, a former defender for Sachdeva Delhi Football
02:59Club, who is shaping future stars through the Haokok United Football Academy in his native Hongpong
03:07village.
03:09The academy now trains over 70 children, including 10 girls, aged 8 to 18.
03:19By offering free coaching to girls, Nagaraypam is empowering his Thangkul community and strengthening
03:26grassroots sports.
03:28Sports also plays a vital role in helping young people in Manipur stay away from drugs and other
03:33harmful activities, offering them a path of discipline, purpose and hope.
03:39The facilities are in the area of Kachunga Sammang.
03:44The area of Kachunga Sammang has a great impact on the football and the community and the
03:51other people who have supported the football.
03:54The facilities have been in the area of Kachunga Sammang.
03:56The facilities have been in the area of Kachunga Sammang.
03:58From the traditional wrestling arenas of Senapati to the football fields of Ukrul, Manipur is
04:24a land where sports not only preserves identity but also paves the path for progress.
04:32As youths embrace both age-old traditions and modern games, the state continues to thrive
04:38as a powerful cradle of sporting talent and community spirit.
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