For the first time in its history, the forthcoming Shirui Lily Festival this year will be witnessing a 7-Aside Futsal tournament among other sporting events in the entertainment segment.
The tourney will be jointly organised by the entertainment sub-committee of the 4th State-Level Shirui Lily Festival 2022 and Araang League, which is an Ukhrul-based football league that promotes young footballers of Manipur.
This was announced by Ukhrul ADM Chunglenmang Kipgen and Araang League President Akui Yr. and its Sports Secretary T Raileng Awungshi in a press conference held at the ADM office, Mini Secretariat here in Ukhrul town on Friday.
“As decided during our last meeting, we are organising the 7-Aside Futsal tournament as a part of the upcoming festival and for this particular event we have engaged Araang League to manage the manpower and other requirements,” said ADM Kipgen who is also the convenor of the festival’s entertainment sub-committee.
The upcoming festival named after the famous Shirui Lily (Kashong Timrawon in Tangkhul dialect) will be held from May 25 to 28. The lily blooms atop Shirui Kashong peak, its unique habitat, from mid-May till first week of June every year.
Highlighting the objective of introducing Futsal, ADM Kipgen said: “We want to make our youths sweat in sporting/physical activities to dissuade them from aimless roaming and abusing drugs.”
He further informed that there’s a plan to include a friendly exhibition match between CM team and the organisers during the tournament. “We are going to propose this to our CM, knowing his keen interest in sports,” he exuded.
Talking to the media persons during the news conference, Araang League President Akui Yr said that registration for participating teams for the competition will be open from May 16 to 21, with a registration fee of Rs. 2000 for each team.
He stated that the match fixture would be revealed soon after the event organisers’ meeting on May 23 at the TTA Complex in Hamleikhong.
“A total of 16 teams will compete for the championship title, which carries a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh,” he added, adding that additional cash prizes would include Rs. 50,000 for the runners-up and Rs. 10,000 each for the two semi-finalists.
He further stated that the top scorer and best goalkeeper will each receive Rs. 2000, and that the organisers may be reached at 9366350581/8259889168 for more information.
The soccer tournament will be held at the turf fields in Langdang village and Vashimtang in Hungpung village, according to Akhui.
At the same time, Akui and Raileng extended appreciation on behalf of Araang League to the entertainment sub-committee chairman Ukhrul MLA Ram Muivah and convenor ADM Kipgen for their initiative and concern for the youngsters.
ADM Kipgen said that in addition to the Futsal competition, other sporting events like body-building and marathon would be organised as a part of the festival’s entertainment component.
He stated that the Shirui Lily Body Building event will be jointly organised by the entertainment sub-committee and re-known body builder Robert Meitei, who is the principal of Ukhrul Central School, a private school in the town.
The Shirui Lily Marathon will be jointly organised by the entertainment sub-committee and T-Coleve and the track would cover Ukhrul town and Shirui village, he added.
Source: thereportaze.com
