Sports and culture will enhance people to people contact: Deputy Chief Minister

IMPHAL | Nov 25

As a part of the ongoing annual tourism festival- Manipur Sangai Festival, 2017, the first match of 2nd Thailand- Manipur Sepak Takraw Exhibition Match was played today at the Indoor Hall of Khuman Lampak Sports Complex. Deputy Chief Minister  Yumnam Joykumar Singh , Forest Minister  Th. Shyamkumar, Minister Counsellor (Commercial) Royal Thai Embassy  Tharadol Thongruang along with others officials from the Embassy and  Kh. Dorendra, President All Manipur Sepak Takraw Association  graced the Exhibition Match.

Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Chief Minister said, Manipur and South East Asian Countries especially with Thailand have so many common ways as in terms of the way people are living and food habits. He said, medium of sports and culture are the means to assimilate each other and therefore, these are the areas where Government is trying to work out plans. It will help to enhance people to people contact among the neighbours, knowing each other and extending co-operation in the days to come. While asserting that students from Manipur and Thailand can exchange knowledge in various fields,  Joykumar Singh said, Government will definitely work out plans to enable exchange of students between Manipur and Thailand.

Forest and Environment Minister  Th. Shyamkumar while welcoming the players from Thailand and other foreign delegates said, organising such events will help us to know each other heralding the bond of friendship and love among ourselves.

 Tharadol Thongruang said, Thailand has so many resemblances with Manipur. He said, peoples have almost the same in terms of living, food habits and other ways. As Manipur is in the gateway to the South East Asia, it can play an important role in bringing a cordial relationship among the neighbours in the region. Connectivity has to be increased to enable free flow traffic between the countries. He lauded the contribution made by players of Manipur in the field of sports even in the international level.

A group of students from Thailand will show Classical Dance tomorrow in the concluding match of the Exhibition Match. A colourful Khamba Thoibi Jagoi was also shown today before the match.