In a powerful celebration of resilience, patriotism and sporting excellence emerging from conflict-hit Manipur, Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen on Saturday felicitated outstanding young sportspersons from strife-torn Kangpokpi district, declaring that sports have become one of the strongest instruments for nation building and youth empowerment.
The grand felicitation ceremony, organised by the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Sadar Hills at El-Shaddai, Kangpokpi Town, was fully sponsored by the Deputy Chief Minister with an objective of instilling the spirit of nationalism among the younger generation through sports while recognising athletes who have brought pride to India despite growing up amid ethnic conflict and displacement.
The programme was attended by KSO leaders, community organisations, parents, students and hundreds of well-wishers, making it one of the district's biggest celebrations of sporting achievement in recent years.
The ceremony honoured India's emerging football sensations Thangsanglen Kipgen, the Indian Neymar Junior, Seiminsang Khongsai and Lalvanghao Haokip, besides badminton prodigy KimKim Khongsai, who has earned the sobriquet "The Saina Nehwal of Kangpokpi."
The event began with an invocation by KWU Sadar Hills President Nengboi Kipgen, followed by gospel melodies by Ng. Phalnu Kipgen. KSO-Sadar Hills Vice President (Administration) Thangtintlen Haokip delivered the keynote address before the Deputy Chief Minister presented traditional shawls, bouquets and cash incentives to the athletes.
The programme also featured testimony sharing by all four sporting icons, speeches by Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills, SAHILCA and the athletes' parents, before concluding with blessing prayers by Rev. Thangsat Kipgen.
The three young footballers have scripted one of Indian football's most inspiring success stories.
Representing Minerva Academy, the trio helped India conquer both the prestigious Gothia Cup 2026 in Sweden and the Helsinki Cup 2026 in Finland—two of the world's biggest and most competitive international youth football tournaments that annually attract elite academies and thousands of young footballers from across the globe.
Leading the charge was Thangsanglen Kipgen, widely regarded as the "Indian Neymar Jr.", whose extraordinary attacking brilliance saw him score 18 goals in the Gothia Cup, earning the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award before netting another 17 goals in the Helsinki Cup.
He was ably supported by Seiminsang Khongsai, who scored 11 goals across both tournaments, and Lalvanghao Haokip, who added 14 goals, forming one of the deadliest attacking combinations of the championships.
Their remarkable performances not only brought international glory to Minerva Academy but also placed India firmly on the global youth football map, demonstrating that extraordinary talent can emerge even from regions scarred by prolonged ethnic violence.
The fourth recipient, KimKim Khongsai, has become one of Northeast India's brightest badminton prospects after consistently excelling at national-level competitions, earning widespread recognition as the "Saina Nehwal of Kangpokpi."
Addressing the gathering, Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen said the achievements of the young athletes represented much more than sporting success, describing them as symbols of hope, resilience and national pride for a generation growing up amidst conflict.
She urged the athletes to continue serving the nation with discipline, dedication and humility, saying true patriotism is reflected not merely in words but through excellence that elevates India's standing before the world.
Invoking the famous words attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte—"Give me good mothers, and I will give you a great nation"—the Deputy Chief Minister emphasised that nation building begins with values nurtured at home and strengthened through education, discipline and sports.
She said the sporting achievements of the district's youth have become a source of inspiration for countless children living in relief camps and conflict-affected villages, proving that determination can triumph over adversity.
Calling sports one of the strongest instruments of character building, she encouraged young people to pursue excellence while remaining committed to serving the nation with integrity and responsibility.
In a significant appeal, KSO Sadar Hills urged the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to entrust Minerva Academy founder Ranjit Bajaj with the responsibility of leading India's Under-15 football team at the upcoming FIFA U-15 World Cup.
The student body argued that Minerva Academy's unprecedented success in producing international youth champions, coupled with its historic triumphs in the Gothia Cup and Helsinki Cup, has demonstrated a proven model for developing world-class Indian footballers.
KSO said the achievements of Thangsanglen Kipgen, Seiminsang Khongsai and Lalvanghao Haokip stand as compelling evidence of the academy's player development programme and expressed confidence that Bajaj's leadership could significantly strengthen India's prospects on the global stage.
The organisation maintained that Indian football should reward proven excellence and visionary coaching capable of transforming promising youngsters into international champions.
The felicitation ceremony concluded amid loud applause as community leaders hailed the athletes as symbols of hope for conflict-hit Kangpokpi, asserting that their achievements have shown the world that even from the shadows of violence can emerge champions capable of carrying India's tricolour to the highest international sporting arenas.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
