Speaker says Imphal polo ground must be reserved for horse sports

Manipur Assembly Speaker Th Satyabrata Singh has said the historic Mapal Kangjeibung in Imphal should be kept only for polo and other horse sports, The Sangai Express reported. He was speaking on Sunday at the opening of the 3rd Dr Ksh Chourjit Singh Inter-District Polo Tournament, 2026, which is being played at the ground.

Mapal Kangjeibung, also called the Imphal Polo Ground, is widely regarded as the world's oldest living polo field. The Speaker said he would raise the matter with the state's highest decision-making body so that the ground keeps that character. He thanked pony owners and others who have kept the tradition going.

Prof Ch Priyoranjan Singh, president of the Manipuri Pony Society, who presided over the function, asked the Speaker to persuade his colleagues and the authorities to give that protection legal force.

A new award and a university plan

Daljit Singh Chawdhary, a retired IPS officer who is Vice-Chancellor of the National Sports University, said the university was considering adding equestrian studies to its courses. Prof Mayengbam Akshaykumar Singh, former head of clinical psychology at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal, recalled the work of the late Dr Ksh Chourjit Singh in medicine and culture, after whom the tournament is named.

The Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association also announced a Dr Ksh Chourjit Singh Polo Journalist Award, starting with this third edition of the tournament, to recognise reporters who cover polo and equestrian sport. It will be given in print and electronic categories, with a citation and a cash prize.

Twelve teams are taking part.

Opening match

On the first day, Chingkheihunba Polo Club of Kongpal, representing Kakching district, beat Loyalakpa Polo Club of Sangaiprou in Imphal West 8-5 and reached the quarter-finals.

Chingkheihunba led 4-2 after the first chukker and 7-4 at half-time. Each side scored once in the third chukker, and the fourth was goalless.

Leishemba Takhellambam scored four goals for the winners, three of them in the first chukker. Th Kaoba scored once in each of the first two chukkers, and L Kokeshwor and O Rozer added one each. For Loyalakpa, Th Basanta scored twice and O Chinglensana, A Abung and L Abhinash scored once each.

The tournament continues at Mapal Kangjeibung in the coming days.