Manipur has a rich culture in sports. There are many indigenous games and sports play by Manipuri since time immemorial. Most of the games are war-oriented and martial games of ancient Meiteis.


 Sagol Kangjei

  Sagol Kangjei is an indigenous game of Manipur. This game of horse and stick is played by Manipuri since time immemorial. According to Meitei mythology the game is a ritual game initiated by "Lord Marjing". And according to Kangjeirol Puya, an ancient written record of Sagol kangjei, the game is introduced to the people for the first time by Ningthou(king) Kangba(1405-1359 B.C) of the then Meitei kingdom. So the stick use in the game is term as Kang-chei(kang-jei) and ball as Kang-droom after his name.
  Till 1st century AD the game has no specific number of players. King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba(33-153 AD) introduce the Pana system for the game in which every Pana(team) has 7 players. It is believe that the first game of pana system are played by (a) marjing (b) Khamlangba (c) Trumningthou (d) Ikopningthou (e) Trongningthou (f) Nongshaba (g) Panthoibi played on one side and (a) Thangjing (b) Khoriphaba (c) Wangbrel (d) Yangoiningthou (e) Nambul lakpa (f) Oknarel and (g) Loyarakpa on the other side.  However regular playing of this game commenced in 1606, during the reign of the king Khagemba(1597-1652) under newly framed ruled of the game.

  It is during the reign of King Chandrakirti, the game went to the adjoining district of Cachar Assam. The British tea planters learnt the game from Manipuris and they first took up the game in Cachar Assam during the 19th century. Then British modify the game and name as Polo.
  
 

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