Bodies condole demise of Khoibi Salam

IMPHAL, May 19
Apex bodies of Sports in the State have poured in condolences over the demise of  karate teacher and boxing enthusiast Khoibi Salam on May 18 at his residence.
Khoibi Salam is survived by his wife, one son and two daughters.
Manipur Olympic Association (MOA), in a condolence message, mourned the demise of Khoibi Salam who served as the treasurer of the association for two terms between 1977 and 2004. An emergency executive council meeting of the association was convened this morning at the meeting hall of the MOA with M Ratankumar, vice president of MOA in the chair, it said.
The members present not only recalled his contributions towards the cause of sports in the State but also observed two minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul, it said.
Sharing the grief and sorrow of the bereaved family members, the members of the association also prayed for his soul to rest in peace, it added.
The Manipur Amatur Karate-Do Association (MAKA) in a note, expressed heartfelt condolence over the demise of Sensei Khoibi Salam who was also the founder chairman of the association.
A team of MAKA paid a visit to the residence of the former founder chairman and Manipur's first black belt holder of Manipur and reached out to the bereaved family members, it said.
As a martial art enthusiast, he founded All Manipur Shotokan Karate Association as well as Manipur Un Armed Martial Arts Association, it recalled.
MAKA also noted that he was former general secretary and president of Manipur Amateur Boxing Association (MABA) and was the treasurer of the Manipur Olympic Association when the association hosted the 5th National Games in Imphal.
He was also a former chief instructor of the Karate unit of the now-disbanded All Manipur Judo and Karate Association, MAKA recalled.
Khoibi Salam, born to Salam Birchandra and Salam Ongbi Bidumukhi at Sagolband Sayang Kurao Makhong on February 8, 1952, retired as an Additional Chief Town Planner, Government of Manipur, it added.
MABA and Imphal West Amateur Boxing Association (IWABA) also expressed shock over the demise of former MABA general secretary and former senior vice president of BFI yesterday.
The associations, in separate statements, noted that his contributions in the field of boxing was noteworthy.
His untimely demise is an irreparable loss to the boxing fraternity and the associations truly share the sorrow of the bereaved family, the associations said.
The associations also prayed for his soul to rest in peace.