Manipur to abstain from National Games

Manipur will not participate in the 6th National Games in Punjab and return all medals received in the team championships in the previous games if the ceasefire is not withdrawn from the state, Manipur Olympic Association President G Joykumar Sharma said on Saturday.

The 49 gold, 24 silver and 39 bronze medals won by the state in the 5th National Games, besides the Raja Bhalendra Singh trophy would be returned if the ceasefire is not withdrawn, Sharma said after conveying MOA's decision not to participate in the National Games to Union Minister of state for Home I D Swami on Saturday morning.

Two Arjuna Award winners from the state, boxer Ng Dingko Singh and weight-lifter Kunjarani Devi had been directed to return their awards, he said.

Sharma said Manipur had produced 200 players at the international level, but "we all are upset and shocked over the extension of ceasefire to Manipur".