3rd edition of Lt Col Robert TA Memorial Badminton Tournament begins

Our Correspondent
Senapati, Sep 23: The 3rd edition of Lt Col Robert TA Memorial Badminton Tournament, 2024 kicked off today at Multi-purpose Indoor Hall, Rikhumai Taphou, Senapati in the presence of  Brig AA Ukidwe, Commander, 59 Mountain Brigade, Senapati as chief guest, Chingpai Rangnamei, wife of late Lt Col Robert TA as guest of honour.
The tournament organised by the Indian Army in memory of  Lt Col Robert TA under operation Sadbhavana will conclude on September 27.
Recalling the army officer, Maj Aditya of 2 Maha Regiment said that Lt Col Robert from Maram village in Senapati district was born on January 24, 1981 to Thoiba Angelus and K Karaila.
 He joined the Army in the year 2004 at the age of 23 years and became the first person from the Maram community to don the army uniform as an officer through technical entry scheme (TES) and was commissioned into the Corps of Engineering, an important combat unit of the Indian Army.   In 2008, he was awarded the VCOAS Commendation after his squad under his leadership as a captain completed the prestigious Army Adventure Challenger Cup and emerged as the winner, Maj Aditya said.
He got promoted to the rank of Lt Col in the year 2017 and by 2020, he had put in around 16 years of service after having worked in areas near the Indo-China border.  During 2020, his unit was deployed in North Sikkim Area of Responsibility (AOR) of the unit spanned over remote rugged terrain with extreme weather conditions especially in the winter season, he said.
Lt Col Robert was leading one such patrol cum snow clearance team comprising three officers and 18 other soldiers on May 14, 2020 when an avalanche struck and buried them beneath. A massive rescue operation was launched jointly with the elements of Indian Army, Indian Air Force and ITBP and the rescue team eventually managed to extricate a number of soldiers but Lt Col Robert TA lost his life owing to prolonged exposure to extreme cold conditions, he recalled.
 He was a committed soldier and a fine officer who laid down his life in the line of duty. He is survived by his wife, Chingpai Rangnamei and two daughters namely Pungdila Deborah and Hinga, he said.
The tournament is being organised as an annual event to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of Lt Col Robert TA in the line of duty as part of operation Sadbhavna by the Indian Army, Maj Aditya mentioned.
Brig. AA Ukidwe, Commander, 59 Mountain Brigade, Senapati also saluted the officer at the occasion. He also extended his sincere gratitude to all the officials of the Senapati District Badminton Association (SDBA) for also helping in organising such an event.
While extending his warm regards to the wife  of the late army officer, their 2 daughters and family members, the Brigadier also called upon all youth of the district to actively participate in the tournament.
A 2-minute silence was observed by all attendants in honour of the late army officer. Glimpses of Lt Col Robert TA's life were also showcased during the inaugural session.
Around 250 players are participating in the tournament.