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Bihar Make History with Two Golds in Thang-Ta at KIYG 2025; Manipur Dominate with Three Titles

Gaya: Thang-Ta, the traditional martial art of Manipur and one of the five indigenous sports included in the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025, concluded on Wednesday at the Bihar Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (BIPARD) in Gaya. Host state Bihar made history by winning two gold medals for the first time, while Manipur continued its dominance with the highest tally of three golds.

Priya Prerna and Mahika Kumari brought pride to Bihar by winning gold medals. Out of the total eight gold medals, Manipur claimed three, Bihar and Assam secured two each, and Madhya Pradesh won one.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India is committed to promoting traditional indigenous sports like Thang-Ta, Mallakhamb, Gatka, Kalaripayattu, and Yogasana. As India aims to host the 2036 Olympics, efforts are underway to include these traditional sports in the Olympic roster.

The Journey of Thang-Ta and the Role of Huidrom Premkumar

Seventy-year-old Huidrom Premkumar, a central figure in the revival of Thang-Ta, shared insights into the sport’s journey.

“In 1891, the British government banned this art as it was becoming a threat to them. It was revived in 1930 through the efforts of a local king, and later my guru Rajkumar Sanahan took the lead,” he said.

After Sanahan’s death in 1988, Premkumar continued the tradition. He spread the martial art across India and even to countries like South Korea and Iran. Thang-Ta gained significant recognition when it was included in the Khelo India Youth Games in 2021.

“I have devoted my life to Thang-Ta. We are proud of how far we’ve come, but there’s still a long way to go. Indigenous martial arts should be prioritised. It’s not about disrespecting others, but about giving our own traditions more support,” said Premkumar.

Thang Ta 2

Competition Structure and Participation

Thang-Ta featured two categories:

Phunaba Ama: The traditional form using a sword (cheibi) and shield (chungoi).

Phunaba Anishuba: A modern form developed by Premkumar, without a shield but allowing kicking techniques.

A total of 128 players from 25 states competed in four weight categories:

Girls: -52kg, -56kg

Boys: -56kg, -60kg

The three-day event was held from 12 to 14 May, with thrilling matches from the pre-quarterfinals to the finals.

Bihar’s Coach and His Contribution

Bihar’s coach, Sarangthem Tiken Singh, originally from Manipur, played a key role in the state’s success.
“Children from Bihar are very talented. We held a two-month camp in Rajgir. They trained hard and learned quickly,” said Coach Singh.

Thang-Ta Results

Phunaba Anishuba (Boys, -56kg):

Gold: Thokchom Srinivas Singh (Manipur)

Silver: Satyam Dangi (Madhya Pradesh)

Bronze: Rahul Yadav (Rajasthan), Manish Rai (Nagaland)

Phunaba Anishuba (Boys, -60kg):

Gold: Konjengbam Parehanba Singh (Manipur)

Silver: Garv (Delhi)

Bronze: Harman Saini (Punjab), Bhumik Raj (Bihar)

Phunaba Ama (Boys, -56kg):

Gold: Pranay Das (Assam)

Silver: Vaibhav Sharad Mali (Maharashtra)

Bronze: Yumnam Malemnganba Meitei (Manipur), Justin Vener (Nagaland)

Phunaba Ama (Boys, -60kg):

Gold: Rajdeep Das (Assam)

Silver: Lakshya (Haryana)

Bronze: Lucky Kumar (Bihar), Thoiba Yumnam (Manipur)

Phunaba Anishuba (Girls, -52kg):

Gold: Thangjam Lembisana Devi (Manipur)

Silver: Th. Renuka Devi (Assam)

Bronze: Tania Dey (Tripura), Suvakshi Sargam (Bihar)

Phunaba Anishuba (Girls, -56kg):

Gold: Mahika Kumari (Bihar)

Silver: Memola Devi (Assam)

Bronze: Alia Akhtar (Chhattisgarh), Priyanshi (Himachal Pradesh)

Phunaba Ama (Girls, -52kg):

Gold: Priya Prerna (Bihar)

Silver: Irom Anamika Devi (Manipur)

Bronze: Kiran Sahu (Chhattisgarh), Apeksha Basavaraj (Maharashtra)

Phunaba Ama (Girls, -56kg):

Gold: Anjali Rawat (Madhya Pradesh)

Silver: Laurembaum Daina Devi (Manipur)

Bronze: Lovely Barman (West Bengal), Tanishka Ramesh Kumbhar (Maharashtra)

For Medal Tally of KIYG 2025, click: https://youth.kheloindia.gov.in/medal-tally

 

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