Amid unrest back home, Manipur hockey team focuses on game

The Manipur hockey team has been playing excellent matches and has reached quarterfinals in the ongoing 14th National Hockey Junior Championship. The team will be playing the quarterfinal match against the UP team today.

Amidst the news and alerts of violence on their phones, the players have been keeping their mind calm and giving their best in the game. Last week, Internet was suspended in Manipur. The coaches are making sure that the players do not discuss the situation in the Northeast state, which is on the boil again.

"Our parents aren't telling us anything in detail. I talked to them last night and they only said one thing, 'Medal lekar aana, yahan ka matt socho,’" said Arbin, one of the players.

Another player, Ningthoujam, said the team was ready for the quarterfinal match. "My parents asked me to stay focused and just think about my game. I am trying to do that," he said.

The team coach KHS Romesh Singh said it was a conscious decision not to talk to the players about the situation back home. "We do not want them to think too much about it as it will affect the game. We just discuss various strategies for the game and practice," Singh said.