Mirabai Chanu's is the story of Manipur, a state steeped in sports

Grounded in Manipur's strong sporting culture, its talented sportspersons, however, head out of the state for want of resources

“In Manipur, if you throw a stone, it will hit a sportsperson,” Renedy Singh laughs. “Out here, everyone plays sports. And pretty competitively. Sure, there is a lot of football, but there is a lot else too,” the former Indian football international says. “Why? Hmmm… brother, now you’re asking the right question.”

Laishangbam Anita Chanu, the woman who discovered the talent and toast of India that is Mirabai Chanu (the two are not related), perks up with an answer. “We have a festival in Manipur, celebrated every year, called Umang Lai,” she says. “There is a sports event in every