KPA Saikul on Monday defeated Symropia FC by lone goal to win the 7th edition of Hmar Martyrs State level Football tournament and be crowned champions at the Saikot playground in Churachandpur, Manipur. 

For the win, the KPA Saikul was awarded a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.

Indeed, KPA Saikul were the deserving winners as they practically won all the six matches they played in the tournament, scoring 28 goals, the most goals, and conceding just six goals. Striker Paulienlal Khongsai of the KPA was also adjudged the Man of the Match and was also the top scorer of the tournament with 10 goals. The team’s goalkeeper Kennedy also won the best goalkeeper award. The fair play award of the tournaments was awarded to The Shepherds Football Academy, Lamka.

The football tournament was a part of the 32nd Hmar Martyr's Day Observance and as such, prior to the final match, a formal function was held where the temporary/makeshift tomb of the Hmar martyrs was place in the football ground where dignitaries and invitees placed wreaths and made a gun salute led by the Hmar Cultural warrior.

The final match programme, which was organised by the Hmar Martyrs Trophy Organising Board (HMARTOB), also witnessed the Hmar traditional bamboo dance performed by 7 troops simultaneously in complete harmony. The chairman of HMARTOB and president of Hmar Inpui spoke about the Hmar Martyrs Day which started in 1989 at Assam and later was held in the place where the Hmar settled in different parts of the world.