‘Our athletes need Facilitation, not Felicitation’ was the point reiterated by U Kiang Nangbah Awardee for Sports, Meghalaya Day Award 2021, Hame Shaniah Suiam. In a conversation with the writer, Hame shared about his journey, his struggles, his success stories and at the same time the bitter part of what happens to all artists, sportspersons and others when they return back to Meghalaya with laurels.
It is still very unfortunate to hear that youth who are eager to represent their State at the national and international level at various platforms has to borrow, take loans and raise funds, in order to be able to meet the required amount to be able to travel and participate. Coming to think of it, when they are out there to participate, they represent themselves only partially, while a maximum of their identity would be linked to their State and or country
1. A humble beginning:
Hame, who was born in Shangpung village, West Jaintia Hills, joined kick boxing at the age of ten and was trained since then by Sardonyx Suchiang. The one person who motivated him is his father who encouraged him to take up kick boxing as a weapon for self-defence. Hame went on to say that irrespective of the field one is in; having good physic should primarily be for fitness and not to indulge in any kind of violence. Alongside, he continued to pursue his studies and got four distinctions in four subjects during his SSLC Examination, and eventually graduated in BSc Electronics from St. Edmund’s College, Shillong.
Besides his active sports career, Hame is very much involved in agricultural activities on an everyday basis. He aspires to join the armed forces, while at the same time desires to continue competing till he retires. After seven years of being trained in kickboxing, he recalls that he won for the first time at the national level, while at the international level; it was a persevered effort of 12 years when he got the deserving recognition.
His main supports till date are his parents – his father who drives a tourist taxi, and his mother who runs a tailoring shop, his three sisters and his close family members. Those who provided him guidance right from when he was young were his teachers and Principal in Shangpung village and teachers and Principals in his higher secondary up to his graduation. He grabs all possible opportunities to learn and keeps himself updated through YouTube tutorials, Webinars and seminars held in various parts of the country in the recent past.
2. Hame’s contribution to the State of Meghalaya:
In a short period of being involved in kickboxing, Hame Shaniah Suiam’s contribution to the State of Meghalaya has been immense with regard to his achievements. He represented India at the WAKO Indian Open International Kickboxing Tournament at New Delhi, India (2020) and won 1st Prize for the 57 KG, 63 KG and Point Fighting Grand Champion (Open Weight). He also won 1st Prize in the X WAKO World Cup Diamond Kickboxing at Anapa, Russia (September 2019), for Point Fighting – 57 KG and 2nd Prize in Kick Light – 57 KG. In the Nepal Open International Kickboxing Championship at Kathmandu, Nepal (June 2019), he won the 1st Prize in the Point Fighting – 57 KG. At the 4th International Turkish Open Kickboxing European Cup at Antalya, Turkey (April 2019), Hame won 3rd Prize in Point Fighting – 57 KG. In the WAKO World Kickboxing Championship at Budapest, Hungary (November 2017), he was placed in the 5th Position for Point Fighting – 57 KG. Also, in the WAKO World Kickboxing Championship at Dublin, Ireland (November 2015), he finished Round Sixteenth for Point Fighting – 57 KG and in the WAKO Cadets & Junior World Kickboxing Championship at Rimini, Italy (September 2014), he finished 5th Position for Low Kick -51 KG.
At the national level, Hame has represented the State in numerous platform – Pune, Maharashtra (March 2019), Kolkata, West Bengal (December 2018), New Delhi (January 2018), Raipur, Chhattisgarh (September 2017), Kolkata, West Bengal (August 2015),
Faridabad, Haryana (December 2014) and Barbil, Odisha (April 2014). Hame has been invited as Coaches, Black Belt and Referee to events organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) (September 2020), Mysore, Karnataka (October 2019), Rohtak, Haryana (October 2017), Kolkata, West Bengal (December 2013 & 2018) and Pune, Maharashtra (August 2017).
In Meghalaya, he has been a Promoter of Directorate Diary Development, Meghalaya (November 2020), and Brand Ambassador of National Health Mission, RKSK Meghalaya (July 2020 to March 2021) and National Health Mission, RKSK Meghalaya (March 2018 to July 2019)
3. Challenges as an athlete:
Kickboxing under the Banner of the World Association of Kickboxing Organization (WAKO) International Federation (IF) was recognised by International Olympic Committee (IOC) on November 30, 2018. Kickboxing is now officially included in the upcoming World Games 2022, World Combat Games 2022 and European Olympic Games 2023. Technically, WAKO Kickboxing is one step closer to becoming an Olympic Sport.
It was quite disheartening to learn from Hame, someone who brought laurels to Meghalaya (6 times Gold Medalist from 2014 till date), that the support that he got from the Government was almost nil throughout his career. When he represented the State in 2014 (Italy), he got financial assistance which covered 50 per cent of the total expenses. In 2015 (Ireland), he got financial assistance which covered 25 per cent of the expenses, both the years from the Government. Beyond that, all his trips that he went to participate in international platforms had absolutely no financial aid of any kind from the Government. These included Hungary (2017), Turkey (2019) – won a Bronze Medal, Nepal (2019) – won a Gold Medal and Russia (2019) – won Gold and Silver Medal.
All the expenses in these international trips were covered by Hame, his parents and family members by taking soft loans and by raising funds from good wishers, NGO, MLA, MDC and community leaders. Ironically, even if they are rewarded with any financial help, the money is handed over to them after months and years after the event has taken place. This is the same story that we keep hearing from every artist, musician, sportsperson, and youth who have excelled in various platforms – regional, national and international. Contradicting this existing scenario, we have departments and ministries set up to cater to such requests, and to facilitate the procedures and requirements. From a layman’s perspective, one keeps pondering on the role and functions of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, at the Centre, Sports Minister in the State, Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, and Department of Arts & Culture.
Conclusion:
Sports, he recalled, are very much encouraged in states like Punjab and Haryana. He shared that the government itself has taken proactive steps to promote sports amongst all age groups to divert them from all kinds of social evils. He applauded his colleagues from Manipur, who a majority of them, excelled well in all kinds of sports in the country and abroad, and by this, he meant both the gender.
Our youth, he opines, needs both moral and financial support. Somewhere along the line, if every youth has to suffer without such support, it will de-motivate them to even think of indulging in any kind of sports activities or opt for it as a career. This is the same tone of the response of most parents and family members for their young ones who wish to enter Sports full time. If we are to look at Sports as an important activity for our youth to choose it as a career alternative, then these dynamics have to change and it has to start now.
At 25, Hame’s message to the youth is to keep striving for what they really long for and or aim in life. Having to reside in a village, with no infrastructural equipment to continue practising regularly, his involvement in agricultural activities, he believes, is one way to keep him fit. His determination keeps him high in spirits in wanting to do better every single day. In the words of John Foster – “He, who would do some great thing in this short life, must apply himself to the work with such a concentration of his forces as to the idle spectators, who live only to amuse themselves, looks like insanity”. (The writer can be reached at maxwell.lyngdoh@gmail.com)
