Despite competing internationally for India, this Manipur athlete still experiences hardship

Guwahati: A sportsperson from Manipur now has to weave clothing to make ends meet despite representing India on the world stage.

Singamayum Tajbanu, who represented the nation in the recent 2nd World Jeet Kune-do Championship 2023, won a Gold Medal in the 60 kg Senior Women’s Category. The competition was held in Sri Lanka from March 10 to 12.

Tajbanu is currently making clothing by weaving them to supplement her income and lessen the major financial stress her parents are bearing.

She represented India and Manipur at both the national and international levels in her debut, winning multiple medals in the karate and Jeet Kune Do disciplines.

She received multiple gold medals at both the national and international levels in the Jeet Kune-do discipline. She currently holds 12 gold medals in Jeet Kune-do, including four gold medals at the international level and eight gold medals at the national level.

She won four gold, seven silver, two bronze and one international silver and bronze medal in karate, giving her a total of 15 national medals.

Meanwhile, her father Md Manowar was a CRPF personnel, who sustained heavy injuries from a bomb blast during Kargil War. He voluntarily retired and has subsequently lost hearing in his right ear after receiving therapy for a year.

Tajbanu discussed the difficulties she had in her profession, including both emotional and physical as well as financial challenges. The family’s primary source of income, her father’s pension, helps with her training and participation in tournaments, but it is insufficient.

She claimed that because the government and the relevant department do not offer financial assistance, she must come up with at least one lakh rupees and 30,000 rupees, respectively, to compete in international and national championships.

She claimed that in order to compete in both the national and international championships, she must set aside at least Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 30,000, respectively. This is a significant price for her family because neither the government nor the relevant department offers any financial support.

She also needs to weave Rani Phi to make money so she can pay her bills, take care of her family, and pursue her career. She stated that she was quite hesitant to take part in the most recent championship due to financial limitations.

She emphasised her goal to free the youth in productive and restrictive ways from the grip of substance misuse in order to help create a better society, as well as her hope that she would bring honour to her nation and state in upcoming championships and tournaments.

Tajbanu added that she regrets not being able to realise her goal of creating a better society without the help and support of both the people and the government.

Her father, MD Manowar, stated that his daughter is completing his dream of serving the country, which he had left unfinished owing to his misfortune, and he is giving her all the support he is capable of giving.

He also requested the help of the chief minister N Biren Singh and the relevant department, pleading with them to provide a position that would be fit for her credentials so that he and his family could finally receive the money they were owed by the nation.