The 3rd edition of the friendly football match between Manipur and Myanmar’s Mandalay was held in Imphal on Saturday.
It match was held as part of the ongoing Manipur Sangai Festival 2019 aiming to foster a close friendship relation between India and Myanmar.
The endeavour is to connect Myanmar with Manipur through sports besides further development of trade and economy between two regions.
Manipur women’s football team have defeated Myanmar’s Mandalay team 1-0 in the match at the historic Mapal Kangjeibung, the oldest living pologround in Imphal.
In an earlier match played at Kakching district headquarters, an important place along the Indo-Myanmar highway, Manipur women’s football team also beat Myanmar’s Saigang women foot team by a similar goal margin.
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh, Kakching MLA Y Surchandra, Convenor RK Shivachandra of State Level Committee for Actualisation of Act East Policy, Director Y Myo Myint Aung of Ministry of Health and sports, Mandalay and Head Coach U Maung Maung of Saigang Region witnessed the day’s friendly match.
Speaking on the occasion, chief minister Biren said that Sangai Festival has now become an International Festival as it attracts various foreign entrepreneurs and tourists to participate in the festival.
He said considering the public demand, the festival which was scheduled to end on Saturday has been extended till December 2.
Informing that Imphal-Mandalay chartered flight service has been started to strengthen the friendly relations between India and Myanmar, he said the State government is persuading the Centre for a regular Imphal-Mandalay flight service soon.
Myanmar Director Y Myo Myint Aung said that it was encouraging to see certain development projects including the widening of Indo-Myanmar highway which are coming in Manipur in the recent past.
He also expressed his desire to introduce some of the traditional sports of Myanmar including Myanmar national sport Chinlone (Burmese) also known as caneball in the upcoming festivals in Manipur.