36th Loktak Day: Manaobi Singha tops half marathon

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 7 : Manaobi Singha of Lanka, Hojai district, Assam was fastest in the half marathon organised in connection with the 36th Loktak Day Celebration-2025.
The run organised by Loktak Sports Academy was flagged off from Keibul Lamjao Ethnic Park before culminating at Thanga.
The run held with the slogan “ Loktakidamak Chellu, Yelhou Ngamisingidamak Lepli (run for Loktak, we are with indigenous fishers)” was launched in the presence of former Dy CM, Y Joykumar; former Minister Heisnam Sanayaima among others.
Manaobi completed the 21 km run in 1:11:29.68 (1 hour, 11 minutes and 29.68 seconds) to seal the top honour as Kh Zaved Hussain of Lilong Haoreibi finished second with a time of 1:13:55.68. Moirangthem Manithoi of Thamnapokpi in the meantime settled for the third place taking 1:15:04.55. The top three athletes were feted with certificates and cash prizes.
L Pari of Torbung Bangla (1:15:18.63), Yumnam Arjit of Waiton (1:15:46.83), Yumnam Gopeshwor of Waithou (1:19:39.37), Gurumayum Gulson of Sagolband (1:21:20.64), TR Dithuanlung of Khuman Lampak (1:23:48.23), Yumnam Punshiba of Wangoo (1:26: 54.82), Yumnam Tyson of Haoreibi (1:26:57.68) and three others who made it up to 13 positions received consolation prizes.
Youngest runner Ahongbam Renelson also earned accolades and special prize as he managed to complete the course.
Speakers at the occasion dwelled on the need for introspecting the lives of the residents living in and around Loktak lake.
They also observed that the proposed Loktak lake preservation efforts launched by the Government often pose threats to those whose livelihood depends on the lake. These issues should be addressed in time, they observed.
If the lake is not preserved and the issues of those relying on Loktak for their livelihood are not considered, Manipur may lose both the lake and the people, they said while also underlining the importance of raising voice collectively.