IMPHAL, Jan 18: The 9th edition of Director General Assam Rifles Cup, State Equestrian Championship organized jointly by IGAR (South) and Manipur Equestrian Association ended at Imphal Polo Ground with a glittering closing ceremony today.
The chief guest Major General U K Gurung, YSM, IGAR (South) and Mrs Uma Gurung were accorded a warm welcome with a traditional Manipuri reception and presentation of Pot–Lanba. Brigadier HPS Pall, Dy GOC, IGAR (South), Buddhachandra Singh, president, Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association, Dr S Joy Kumar Singh, president, Manipur Equestrian Association and a host of civil and military dignitaries attended the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion Major General Gurung said that the DGAR Cup State Equestrian Championship and IGAR (South) Junior Equestrian Championship is a radiant and eloquent testimony of the Assam Rifles enthusiastic zeal to encourage the strong sports culture of Manipur. “It is also an endeavour to save the rare breed of Manipuri pony from the brink of extinction”, he added. The whole ceremony was full of pomp and splendor but the cynosure of the ceremony were the traditional Manipuri Pung and Dhol Cholom and the exhibition of Sagol Kangjei which received accolades from the gathering on their performances.
The prize winners in senior category – lance individual W Rupapal Singh of IRC, sword individual L Thomson Singh of ESC, show jumping individual, Prakash Bhandari of IRC, lance team Eastern Students Club, in Junior category – lance individual, Kalu Singh of ESC, show jumping, Th Nauba Singh of IRC, girls category – show jumping for girls P Dipa Devi of CHPT, best march past Manipur Police Sports Club, over all trophy for the 9th DGAR Cup State Equestrian Championship and 3rd IGAR (South) Junior Equestrian Championship went to Imphal Riding Club and Chingkheihunba Polo team respectively.