The Manipur State Commission for Women (MSCW) on Wednesday felicitated five iconic sports women of Manipur during a one-day seminar on issues and challenges faced by women in sports held at SAI Auditorium Hall, Takyel, Imphal.
Pioneer of Manipur Muslim (Pangal) woman football player, Fatima Begum; woman international football player, Athoi Kamei; international hockey player, Sanggai Ibemhal; international cyclist, Ch Rameshwori Devi and international athlete H Bhubaneshwori were felicitated by the MSCW at the seminar organised under the sponsorship of the National Commission for Women.
During the inaugural of the seminar, social welfare director Ng Uttam said that women not only face challenges in sports, they always face challenges in various fields but they face more challenges in sports.
"Despite many challenges, some women players shine in sports even reaching international level," he said, adding that "there is nothing that cannot be overcome by women and they can push their hidden tolerance in the right time".
The director of social welfare also said that one should not stop encouraging women. "Many women players are facing challenges such as proper sports teachers, institutes and safe transportation too," he said, adding that there are also natural challenges that women face during pregnancy, after child birth, body change, body structure, etc.
Uttam also spoke on sexual harassment at workplaces and said that to complain such, there should be an internal complaints committee.
MSCW chairperson Salam Ulka Devi called for encouraging women and girls to take up sports.
During the technical session, senior journalist Ratneshwori Goswami spoke on issues and challenges faced by women in sports.
Retired volleyball coach of SAI-NERC, Imphal, Bachaspatimayum Ranjana Devi spoke on more participation of women in sports: suggestion and motivation.
Football coach of Youth Affairs and Sports, government of Manipur, Langam Chaoba Devi spoke on women and girls in sports.
Retired athletic coach of SAI-NERC, Imphal, Konsana called for reframing sports for teenage girls: building strong foundations for their future, while retired hockey chief coach of SAI-NERC, Imphal, Ch Shakuntala Devi spoke on gender equality in sports.
