15 November Page 2

Imphal Times Supplementary issue 2 Editorial Mary Kom has a tough opponent in Kim in AIBA Thursday, November 15, 2018 Women’s World Boxing Championships New Delhi, Nov. 15 opponents come with greater reputation. Saweety, the silver medal Sangai of the Five-time world champion M. C. winner from Jeju worlds in 2014, has Mary Kom is among seven other the top-seeded Mireille Nouchka boxers who have been accorded Fontijn from the Netherlands who Sangai festival first-round byes, but she is the only is a silver medal winner from Rio The state government, in its efforts to showcase and Indian to get one of the top-seeding Games, and other Europeans and promote the multifarious potentials of the state has slots for the 10th AIBA Women’s Asians in her half of the draw. been organizing the Manipur Tourism Mega-Fest which World Boxing Championships The 21-year-old Lovlina has to is arguably the biggest and most extravagant affair in which begin at the KD Jhadav Hall contend with Finland’s Elina the state every year from 21st to 30th November and here today. Gustafsson, a silver medal from the has been renamed ‘Sangai Festival’ since 2010 as a The No. 2 seed Indian in 48 Kg last edition in Astana and Taipei’s way to highlight the uniqueness of the Brow-Antlered Category will not have to enter the Chen Nien-Chin, a world Deer of Manipur. The state government, as has ring until Sunday when she takes championships bronze medallist in witnessed in the past, will spare no efforts or on the winner of the preliminary the first half of the draw. resources to make this year’s much anticipated event round bout between Kazakhstan’s OPENING CEREMONY beginning today an astounding success. Tourists, Algerim Kassenayeva and The ceremony opened with dignitaries, cultural troupes, artisans and participants American Jazzell Bobadilla. The performers projecting India’s rich from abroad will also be witnessing the event which pugilist from Mongolia, Jargalan culture in various dance forms— will undoubtedly provide an international feel to the Ochirabat in light fly (48kg) has Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Oddisi whole affair. In all, the whole exercise can only be been given the top seed position. and folk—getting a big applause. described as an attempt to showcase and promote the Mary Kom, who is chasing her sixth couple of rounds to qualify for the and six of them have been accorded The martial arts exponents also best of what the state has to offer to the world in world crown and considered the quarterfinals, which are slated for the byes. But she will have to be brought out their expertise during terms of art and culture, handloom, handicrafts & fine hosts’ best bet to win gold, is placed Tuesday next. wary of Yang Xiaoli of China, the the ceremony which kept the arts, indigenous sports, cuisines & music, eco & in the second half of the draw. She India will also hope a medal from back-to-back gold winner from Jeju spectators mesmerized. adventure sports as well as the scenic natural beauty faces two main hurdles in former world champion and five- and Astana. The Shillong Chamber Choir, of the land and ethnic diversity of Manipur Society. Uzbekistan’s Julasal time Asian gold winner, Sarita Devi Glasgow CWG bronze winner, Pinki comprising 25 members, including The intention of the state government cannot be Sultonalieva and North Korean Kim in lightweight category (60 kg), the Rani, in 51 kg will have a tough time 15 singers, soloists and musicians, doubted. What remains unclear is the impact of this Hyang Hyang Mi, too have received second best boxer after Mary Kom. as the Indian, drawn in the second made the audience and foreign annual tryst on the state in terms of improvements or first-round byes. However, the However, the fourth-seed woman, half, has two likely contenders for participants regale with their foot- achievements of its intended objectives- and more Indian’s main opponent in the is likely to take on Chinese Yang medals in Chinese Chang Yuan, the tapping music. The choir members importantly, what should have been inferred from this semifinals could be the North Wenlu, the defending world Asian Games gold medallist, and rocked the stage, making the recurring disappointments in terms of the results Korean and also the winner of a champion, and Russian Anastasiia England’s Ebonie Jones, a highly occasion a memorable one with rather than the actual hosting of the event which has silver medal at the ABC Beliakova, the Rio Olympics bronze talented boxer. melodious performances as the been successful for the most part albeit with a few Confederation. medal winner earlier than she would Sonia in featherweight class, pianist, Neil Nongkynrih, unfortunate and violent incidents which have failed to The other Indians who have want to. making her debut in the Worlds and conducting the orchestra to finesse. mar the spirits of the public. received first-round byes include However, Seema Punia in heavy placed in the second half, will have Their western classical music, Khasi And while the euphoric public is anticipating the Rani Pinki (51), Sonia (57), Sarita weight class (+81) is the only Indian some torrid moments facing the likes folk songs and opera singing made extravaganza like every year, the overall atmosphere Devi (60), Lovlina Borgohain (69), who can get into the medal round Chinese Yin Junhua, the Rio Games the group endearing to the in the state is muted and even cautious. It would be Saweety (75) and Seena Punia (81+) with least efforts as she will play silver medallist, German Ornella audience. interesting to see what the combined impact of But Manisha (54), Smranjit Kaur (64) her quarterfinals, after having been Gabriel Wahner and CWG silver The Light & Sound show, including demonetization and the ongoing economic blockade will and Bhagyabati Kachari (81) will given the first-round bye. In the medal winner, Michaela Walsh from LED drummers and fusion music, have on the turnout and spending habits of the visiting jump into fray straightaway as their quarters, she will be running into Ireland in early rounds. also captivated the participants and public. weight categories have more entries Chinese Xiaoll Yang. This is the only It will not be easy for Lovlina, the audience alike as they enjoyed Admittedly, the limelight for the next many days will and they will have to fight at least a category which has 10 boxers in fray Saweety and Seema as their the show. be on the Festival. And as with every past years, very few, if ever will even wonder about the plight of the shy and gentle endangered creatures whose namesake festival draws thousands of crowds from far and near Yellow alert and orange alert in 6 Kerala districts to witness and experience the best the state has to offer. The total population of Sangai is at best contentious, for according to the 2013 census report, ahead of Cyclone Gaja there are 160 Sangais (after allowing for standard Agency yellow alerts, while Idukki is on hilly areas between 7 am and 7 pm bank or necessary batteries to error) in its natural habitat at Keibul Lamjao which Kerala, Nov. 15 orange alert. on both days. Tweets put out have power the torch, fully charged jumped to 260 according to the latest census carried The SDMA tweeted that Kerala also warned the public to not stop phones with call balance, out by the Forest Department this year. What is certain With Cyclone Gaja expected to hit could be expected to get heavy by small rapids and water matchbox or lighter and necessary though is that the Ithai Barrage has started to wreak Tamil Nadu on November 15 and 16, rainfall due to the cyclone, channels in hilly areas. money have been asked to be kept havoc with the natural habitat of floating biomass or six districts in Kerala have been according to the IMD, due to Instructions to pack all certificates ready. Phumdis on which the endangered and delicate species issued yellow and orange alerts on which the alerts have been issued. and valuable jewellery in water Those in the vulnerable districts have thrived as the natural process of soaking up of both days. “Because of the Cyclonic Storm proof containers or bags have have been asked to follow a few vital nutrients by the biomass from the ground during According to tweets by the State ‘GAJA’ over West central and also been given. radio stations closely for timely the dry season has been prevented by the perennial Disaster Management Authority adjoining East central & South Ensure that all certificates and updates on the weather. Emergency waterlogging of the lake due to the barrage. While (SDMA), a yellow alert has been Bay of Bengal, IMD has valuable jewellery are packed in helpline number has been given as many schemes and plans are in the offing to address issued in three districts on forecasted heavy to very heavy water proof containers or bags and 1077 along with the STD code of the problem, going by experience, there still remains November 15, namely Kollam, rainfall in isolated places of Kerala, stored at a height.An emergency the district the call is being made the very real and imminent danger of the natural habitat Pathanamthitta and Idukki. On 15th November onwards,” the list which includes 100 grams of from. Further, people have also of the endangered Sangai thinning down and November 16, four districts, tweet read. dried grapes or dates, biscuits or been instructed to keep numbers disappearing, and along with it the prized state animal Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, The SDMA has issued public rusk, a knife, 10 chlorine tablets of districts panchayat officials at for good if action is not taken in time and in right Ernakulam and Alappuzha, have alerts warning people not to go to for purifying water, one battery hand, in case of an emergency.

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