Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams from East Khasi Hills and West Khasi Hills have reached their respective finals at the 5th Meghalaya Games, which reached its penultimate day today in Tura.
EKH beat North Garo Hills 58-16 in the semifinals today, while WKH defeated South West Khasi Hills 60-45.
In the men’s semifinals, EKH triumphed over NGH by 89 points to 23, while WKH beat Ri-Bhoi in a closely fought match 61-57.
Both finals will be held on the final day of the Games on Saturday.
In table tennis, EKH and West Garo Hills shared the top spots by taking home three and two gold medals each.
In the first final today, for the men’s singles title, Jeff AK Marak of WGH took the top honours beating Sandeep Kumar of EKH 4-1 while Banehkupar Sancley (EKH) and Izhar G Momin (EGH) had to be content with the bronze.
Diva Tang of EKH defeated Di Toomi V Ch Momin of WGH 4-1 to take home gold while Wanpyntngenlang Lyngdoh and Badaaihun Diengdoh took third spot in the women’s singles.
Sandeep Kumar had his revenge over Jeff Marak in the men’s doubles with the colour of the medals being reversed. Sandeep paired with Steppingstone Lyngdoh while Jeff’s partner was Izhar Momin. The final was a close affair with the EKH team winning 3-2.
Paban Kanta Kanwar with Pynlang Singh Sohtun and Labeeb F Ahmed and Banehkupar Sancley had to be content with bronze medals.
In the women’s doubles, Diva Tang paired with Wanpyntngenlang Lyngdoh to snatch gold against their rivals from the same district, Badaaihun Diengdoh and Ilapynkmen Lyngdoh 3-1.
The bronze medals went to the pairs of Anshruta Nag and Azaniah D Marak and Di Toomi V Ch Momin and Chuanna M Marak.
The last event of the afternoon was the mixed doubles final and this time Jeff Marak paired with Di Toomi V Ch Momin and took away the gold medal. Sandeep was at the receiving end this time with his partner, Diva Tang, and had to settle for silver. The WGH duo romped to a 3-1 win.
The bronze medals were won by the pairs of Steppingstone Lyngdoh and Wanpyntngenlang Lyngdoh along with Izhar G Momin and Chuanna M Marak.
Ri-Bhoi emerged as the dominant force, securing an impressive six gold medals. Additionally, East Khasi Hills, West Garo Hills, and South-West Khasi Hills demonstrated their prowess with one gold each, contributing to the overall excitement of the competition.
Ri Bhoi emerged as the undisputed champion in weightlifting, claiming an outstanding six gold medals. In men’s category of 73 kg, Anasthasius Ryndongsngi, secured the highest points. With 107 points owing to a perfect snatch, which he even bettered with 112 points through clean and jerk, with a mammoth grand total of 219. Adding to the district’s tally, Wanbhabianglang Thabah, Laikmenlang Kharkongor and David Lyngdoh secured highest points in 61 kg, 55 kg and 40 kg, respectively. Their remarkable feat underscores the region’s commitment to training, athleticism, and the development of weightlifting talents. The athletes showcased their strength and dedication by clinching the coveted gold medals.
Despite Ri Bhoi’s dominance, East Khasi Hills demonstrated their power with a commendable performance, securing one gold medal in 81 kg. B Edegar Benneth Jana secured 140 points of which 60 points in snatch, while in clean and jerk he scored 80.
Meanwhile from West Garo Hills, in 67 kg, Raksil N Sangma, secured the highest points of 142, snatch of 60, clean and jerk of 82, showcasing a prowess by clinching one gold medal.
Adding to the diversity of gold medal winners, South-West Khasi Hills also secured one gold medal. This success reflects the inclusive nature of the Meghalaya Games, providing a platform for athletes from various regions to shine.
The success of the 5th Meghalaya Games weightlifting events is a testament to the thriving sports culture in the region and the bright future of weightlifting in Meghalaya.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 5th Meghalaya Games, Former Olympian Silver Medallist and Commonwealth Games winner Weightlifter from Australia, Mr. Robert Kabbas, who is also a mentor at the Elite Pathway Program at Meghalaya, stated, “I have been quite impressed with the level of organization. I would like to congratulate all the competitors. Weightlifting as a sport has great potential in Meghalaya and hence my involvement. We hopefully will develop weightlifting as one of the strongest sports in the state.”
