Manipur CM felicitates three Asian Games 2026 hockey gold medallists
Synopsis
Manipur's Chief Minister personally honoured three of the state's own at the Asian Games 2026 — a men's hockey player and two women's hockey players who helped India sweep both gold medals in the sport at Aichi-Nagoya. The felicitation also surfaced a broader issue: the athletes are seeking government jobs and a formal sports policy, with the latter reportedly now under formulation.
Key Takeaways
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh felicitated three hockey gold medallists on 13 October 2026 at the Chief Minister's Secretariat, Imphal .
The medallists are Sanglakpam Nilakanta Sharma (Men's Hockey) and Pukhrambam Sushila Chanu and Kharibam Bichu Devi (Women's Hockey), all from 20th Asian Games 2026 , Aichi-Nagoya.
India won gold in both men's and women's hockey events at the Games.
Players have requested government employment; CM directed them to apply to the Director of Youth Affairs and Sports .
A comprehensive state sports policy is reportedly under formulation, confirmed by Secretary Naorem Praveen Singh .
CM Khemchand Singh also felicitated Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (weightlifting silver) and Naorem Roshibina Devi (Wushu silver) earlier this month.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, felicitated three hockey players from the state who represented India and clinched gold medals at the 20th Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The ceremony took place at the Chief Minister's Secretariat in Mantripukhri, Imphal.
The Gold Medallists from Manipur
The three celebrated athletes are Sanglakpam Nilakanta Sharma, who was part of India's Men's Hockey squad, and Pukhrambam Sushila Chanu and Kharibam Bichu Devi, both members of India's gold-winning Women's Hockey team. India secured top honours in both the men's and women's hockey events at the Asian Games this year.
What the Chief Minister Said
Addressing the athletes during the felicitation, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh observed that Indian hockey has improved significantly in recent years. He noted that the gold medal victories in both events at the 20th Asian Games 2026 reflected a meaningful leap in the nation's hockey performance and marked a positive turning point for the sport. Notably, Khemchand Singh himself is a former Taekwondo player — a background that, according to the athletes, helps him empathise with the needs and aspirations of sportspersons.
Requests for Government Jobs and Sports Policy
During the meeting, the players formally requested suitable employment within state government departments, in recognition of their achievements. The Chief Minister advised them to submit applications to the Director of Youth Affairs and Sports. One of the players also raised the need for a comprehensive sports policy for successful athletes in the state. In response, Naorem Praveen Singh, Secretary of Youth Affairs and Sports, stated that a sports policy is currently under formulation.
Message to the Next Generation
After the felicitation, the athletes expressed happiness at the warm reception extended by the Chief Minister. They urged the younger generation to pursue their dreams with determination and discipline, and called on parents to actively support their children's sporting ambitions.
Other Manipur Athletes Recognised This Month
This comes after Chief Minister Khemchand Singh earlier this month felicitated star weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, who won a silver medal in the women's 48 kg weightlifting category, and Wushu player Naorem Roshibina Devi, who claimed silver in the women's Sanda 60 kg event — both at the same 2026 Asian Games in Japan. Manipur's haul across sports disciplines at the Games underscores the state's growing reputation as a nursery of Indian sporting talent.
With a sports policy under formulation and government employment discussions under way, the months ahead will test whether the state translates this recognition into durable institutional support for its athletes.
Point of View
But the real story is in the margins: athletes at the peak of their careers are asking for government jobs because no structured post-achievement pathway exists. Manipur punches well above its weight in Indian sport — Mirabai Chanu, the hockey players, Roshibina Devi — yet the state still lacks a formal sports policy. The Secretary's confirmation that one is 'under formulation' is a start, but Manipur has long had the talent pipeline; what it has lacked is institutional infrastructure to retain and reward that talent. Until employment and policy commitments are formalised, felicitation ceremonies risk being the end of the story rather than the beginning of a support system.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Manipur players won gold medals in hockey at the Asian Games 2026?
Three players from Manipur were part of India's gold-winning hockey squads at the 20th Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan: Sanglakpam Nilakanta Sharma from the Men's team, and Pukhrambam Sushila Chanu and Kharibam Bichu Devi from the Women's team. India clinched gold in both events.
When and where did the Manipur CM felicitation take place?
The felicitation was held on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, at the Chief Minister's Secretariat in Mantripukhri, Imphal. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh presided over the ceremony.
Have the hockey players been offered government jobs?
The players requested suitable employment in state government departments during the meeting. Chief Minister Khemchand Singh advised them to submit formal applications to the Director of Youth Affairs and Sports; no appointments have been confirmed yet.
Is Manipur formulating a sports policy for athletes?
Yes, Secretary of Youth Affairs and Sports Naorem Praveen Singh confirmed during the felicitation that a comprehensive sports policy for successful athletes is currently under formulation in Manipur. No timeline has been announced.
Which other Manipur athletes were felicitated at the 2026 Asian Games?
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh earlier this month also felicitated weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, who won silver in the women's 48 kg category, and Wushu player Naorem Roshibina Devi, who won silver in the women's Sanda 60 kg event at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
