In the context of traditional sports of Manipur, which indigenous game is regarded as a local version of field hockey, played with a ball and curved sticks?

Introduction / Context:
India's northeastern state of Manipur is rich in traditional sports and games, many of which resemble modern international sports. Understanding these indigenous games is important for questions on culture and sports geography. One such game is considered a Manipuri version of field hockey, played with a ball and curved sticks on a ground. This question tests whether you can correctly identify that game from among other Manipuri traditions like Yubi Lakpi and Hiyang Tanaba.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The question refers to a Manipuri game that is a local version of hockey. - It mentions that the game uses a ball and curved sticks. - Options include Yubi Lakpi, Khong Kangjei, Hiyang Tanaba and others. - Only one of these is widely described as a hockey like game in standard general knowledge texts.

Concept / Approach:
Manipur has several traditional sports: Yubi Lakpi resembles rugby and is played with a coconut, Hiyang Tanaba is a boat race, and Sagol Kangjei is considered a form of polo. Khong Kangjei, however, is often described as a traditional Manipuri game similar to modern field hockey, involving teams, sticks and a ball. The approach is to recall which indigenous game is linked specifically with hockey in exam oriented cultural notes and to distinguish it from rugby like and boat race events.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by consulting books or exam guides on Indian culture and sports, which usually list Manipuri games with short descriptions. These lists typically mention Khong Kangjei as a form of hockey, Yubi Lakpi as a rugby like game with a coconut and Hiyang Tanaba as a boat race associated with religious rituals. Such consistent descriptions across multiple references confirm that Khong Kangjei is the indigenous hockey style game of Manipur.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Yubi Lakpi, literally coconut snatching, involves carrying and wrestling over a coconut and does not use sticks, so it cannot be considered a hockey version. Hiyang Tanaba involves racing narrow boats and is clearly a water sport, unrelated to field games with sticks. Traditional polo from Manipur, Sagol Kangjei, is played on horseback and more closely resembles modern polo, not hockey. None of the above would apply only if no option matched the description, but Khong Kangjei clearly does.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse the names because several Manipuri games sound similar or unfamiliar to learners. Students may also wrongly guess Yubi Lakpi because they remember it as a contact sport but forget that it uses a coconut and not sticks. To avoid such confusion, it is useful to memorise one clear association for each: Khong Kangjei hockey like, Yubi Lakpi rugby like and Hiyang Tanaba boat race, so that you can quickly choose the correct option in the exam.

Final Answer:
The Manipuri traditional game that is regarded as a local version of hockey played with a ball and curved sticks is Khong Kangjei.