IMPHAL,July 23 � London based European Manipuri Association (EMA)is planning to meet all the Olympians from the North East India on the eve of London Olympics 2012.
In all 10 Olympians from North East India, including five from Manipur alone are participating in the London 2012 Olympics beginning July 27.
They are MC Mary Kom (Boxing), Laishram Devendro (Boxing), Laishram Bombayla (Archery), Ngangbam Soniya Chanu (Weightlifting) and Khadangbam Kothajit Singh (Hockey)from Manipur, Chekrovolu Swuro (Archery) from Nagaland, Shiva Thapa (Boxing) and Jayanta Talukdar (Archery) from Assam, Somdev Dev Barman (Tennis) from Tripura and Tarundeep Rai (Archery) from Sikkim.
"It is indeed a proud moment for all of us specially for the North East India diaspora here in UK. We believe that irrespective of the result, 10 Olympians representing NorthEast India itself is a great achievement for us,"says Information Secretary Tiken Laishram of EMA in a statement to the local media in Imphal.
In order to encourage the 10 Olympians, EMA is planning to handover greeting cards with wishes and encouraging words from the well wishers in UK. An online Facebook campaign has also been started for collecting best wishes from well wishers around the globe, and the associaion aims to print the wishes and present to the Olympians on 26th July, 2012, the statement said. Facebook Group link: "Support Our NE Olympians" is said to be http://www.facebook.com/groups/498268426855504./
With so much to cheer about, the people of Manipur besides EMA have prayers on their lips and wishes in their hearts for their favourite sons and daughters.
For the first time in the history of India in Olympics, the country will be sending their most ever sports persons numbering around 90 athletes. Three times Olympian and former skipper of Indian hockey team Ajit Pal Singh will head the 141-member Indian contingent having 51 officials.
India will be participating in the London Olympics in Archery, Athletics,Badminton, Boxing, Hockey, Judo,Rowing, Shooting, Swimming, Table-Tennis, Tennis, Wrestling and Weightlighting.
