📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Orderinchaos
Sports
Village Volleyball Sparks Hope in Conflict‑Ravaged Manipur
✍️ Hindustan Times
🗓 30 Oct 2026, 08:51 PM
👁 10
In Manipur's war‑torn villages, volleyball has become more than a sport, offering youth a chance to unite, learn teamwork, and look beyond the conflict.
In the hills of Manipur, villages that have endured years of insurgency are finding a new outlet in volleyball. The sport, played on improvised courts, brings together boys and girls from different clans, fostering a sense of community that has been eroded by conflict.
The game has become a platform for learning life skills – teamwork, discipline and resilience – that extend beyond the court. Local coaches, often volunteers from nearby schools, organize weekly sessions that attract over a hundred children.
A recent inter‑village tournament in the Chandel district drew crowds of parents and officials, and the winning team was awarded a new set of balls and a trophy by the state sports department. The event highlighted how sport can bridge divides and give young people a constructive focus.
Beyond the excitement, experts say that regular physical activity helps mitigate the psychological toll of living in a conflict zone. The volleyball program is now being considered for expansion to other districts, with support from NGOs and the government.
The game has become a platform for learning life skills – teamwork, discipline and resilience – that extend beyond the court. Local coaches, often volunteers from nearby schools, organize weekly sessions that attract over a hundred children.
A recent inter‑village tournament in the Chandel district drew crowds of parents and officials, and the winning team was awarded a new set of balls and a trophy by the state sports department. The event highlighted how sport can bridge divides and give young people a constructive focus.
Beyond the excitement, experts say that regular physical activity helps mitigate the psychological toll of living in a conflict zone. The volleyball program is now being considered for expansion to other districts, with support from NGOs and the government.