Khong kangjei, also known as mukna kangjei or sometimes kanjei, and commonly known as foot hockey, Manipuri hockey or hockey on foot, is a sport similar to

field hockey Field hockey is a team sport structured in standard hockey format, in which each team plays with ten outfield players and a goalkeeper. Teams must drive a round hockey ball by hitting it with a hockey stick towards the rival team's shooting ci ...

primarily of the state of

Manipur Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of Myanm ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. It is a game which requires stamina, speed, and agility, and is one of the most popular games in Manipur. It is one of the indigenous sports of Manipur, others being sagol kanjei and kang, each of which reflects the martial tradition of Manipur, and with mukna captures an ethical code important to the

culture of Manipur Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of Myanm ...

. The name is derived from the Meitei terms ''khōng'' (foot), ''kāng'' (ball or round object), and ''jei'', which is derived from the term ''chei'' (to hit). After the '' Hiyang Tannaba'', a type of traditional

boat race Boat racing is a sport in which boats, or other types of watercraft, race on water. Boat racing powered by oars is recorded as having occurred in ancient Egypt, and it is likely that people have engaged in races involving boats and other wate ...

held annually in Manipur, spectators adjourn to the hockey grounds, on which is played a match of foot hockey. Scoring for these matches "is carried on from year to year".

Gameplay

A match is contested between two teams of seven players. The match is

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d by an umpire, who also signals change of sides (''pun onba'') and the end of the match. Each team has a leader, referred to as a ''panjenba'', and play commences when the umpire throws a ball between them at the centre line. A team attempts to

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goals against the opponent, and the team first to attain a predetermined number of goals is declared the winner. Each player has one piece of equipment, a slightly curved bamboo stick about in length similar to a hockey stick. It is used to strike a ball made of bamboo root of approximately in diameter. Each player is associated with an opposing player, and the two never leave each other during a match. Players may pick up the ball and run with it, a play often terminated by the player tossing the ball in the air and striking it. A player may also kick the ball, but must strike the ball with the stick to score a goal. A player may obstruct an opponent; tripping opponents is permitted, and is known as a ''collar''. A player carrying a ball may be physically challenged by an opponent, which requires the two players to wrestle (''mukna''), after which play resumes.

Notes

References

* * * * * * * {{refend Sport in Manipur Field hockey