'Jeena mushkil toh khelne kaha aayenge?': Manipur swimming thrives amidst unrest in state

“Jab jeenekeliye itna mushkil hai toh khelne ke liye kaha aayenge? (When they are struggling to live, how will they think of playing?),” lamented Jekel, a former national-level swimmer. All of the contingent from Manipur lives in its capital Imphal, fairly protected from the the violent clashes between Meitei and Kuki-Zo tribal communities.

Bengaluru: Every time Koijam Athoiba Singh, Hemanshu Nahakpam and Maisnam Arindham Singh dived off the blocks on Monday and Tuesday, Manipur was assured of a medal. 

Among young swimmers at the Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre, the 12-year-old trio were the new-found sporting heroes for a state that has had little to cheer about over the past few years. 

Koijam, Hemanshu and Maisnam stole the limelight at the 41st Sub-junior National Aquatics Championships here by clinching 5 individual gold, 2 silver and a bronze between them. 

While the medals around their necks glittered bright and the applause brought smiles, the boys from the north-eastern Indian state are well aware of the "privilege" they currently enjoy as playing a sport, competing or travelling have become a distant dream for many of their young state-mates caught in the ethnic clashes that have engulfed Manipur over the last two years. 

“Yes, I miss my friends. We used to swim together. But not anymore,” said Koijam, who was adjudged the best male swimmer at the sub-junior Nationals that concluded in Bengaluru last evening.

“I know they are suffering a lot without food and permanent shelter,” added Hemanshu while Maisnam said: “I hope they are safe. We are from the city so we are safe.”

All of the contingent from Manipur lives in its capital Imphal, fairly protected from the the violent clashes between Meitei and Kuki-Zo tribal communities. However, the ongoing tension has affected every Manipuri, said team manager Jekel Singh. 

“The swimmers from the areas where the violence is intense have all stopped swimming. Some of their houses were burnt and they live in a relief camp now,” lamented Jekel, a former national-level swimmer himself. 

“Jab jeenekeliye itna mushkil hai toh khelne ke liye kaha aayenge? (When they are struggling to live, how will they think of playing?). It saddens us that we have lost an entire generation of sporting potential and talent. But what can lay people like us do,” he said. 

Despite a majority of Manipur under turmoil, the sport has managed to make a big splash in recent years. And all the effort to grow swimming is centered in Imphal where the number of pools have increased to close to 10. 

“Swimming has always been a big part of Manipur’s sporting culture. But due to lack of financial support, it hasn’t taken off to the level we would have liked it to by now. 

“Because a few former swimmers are taking to coaching and a few other coaches from outside train kids in Imphal, the numbers have definitely increased. The goal is to make our girls team stronger at the Nationals in the next 3-4 years,” pointed out Jekel. 

Laitonjam Lanchenba has been one of the breakout swimming stars from the state. The 14-year-old made it to the seven-member Indian squad for the 3rd Asian Youth Games to be held from October 22-31 in Bahrain and is one of the top contenders at the ongoing 51st Junior National Aquatic Championships in Ahmedabad.

Koijam, Hemanshu and Maisnam -- Ronaldo and Neymar Jr fans -- are following Laitonjam close behind and aspire to represent the country at the world stage one day. 

“With everything that's going on back home, these kids understand that they are lucky ones. So they are driven to make the most of it,” offered Jekel.