Manipur SAFF football stars demand state backing

Imphal: Nine Manipuri players from the Indian squad that won the 6th SAFF Women's Championship met with Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh this week. They demanded urgent backing to keep the state a powerhouse in women's football. These athletes, including Dangmei Grace and Elangbam Panthoi Chanu, have competed on the global stage from the Asian Cup to the Asian Games.

The players warned that Manipur's dominance is at risk. Local talent is bleeding out of the state because athletes often look for work elsewhere to survive. The current system fails to keep them home. The delegation told the Chief Minister, "Many talented athletes are forced to seek employment outside the State, which weakens the domestic talent pool and disrupts player development pathways."

They presented a list of demands to the government. They want annual women's tournaments to help scout new players and better training facilities. The group also asked for clearer career paths for athletes working in state departments to reward their national achievements.

Chief Minister Singh praised the team for their performance and promised to look into the requests. He committed to better infrastructure and career support for sportspersons. Both sides agreed that future meetings are necessary to turn these promises into actual policy.