A 19-year-old wrestler from West Garo Hills, Ringchi K Sangma, was one of the hundreds of medallists at the 5th Meghalaya Games, which concluded in Tura yesterday.
However, that she managed to step on to the podium was something of a marvel as she had only had six days of basic training in her new-found sport before winning a silver in freestyle wrestling.
Ringchi, of Upper Wadanang, joined the Wrestling Association of West Garo Hills just a month ago.
Wrestling as a sport and not the WWE variety is fairly new to Meghalaya in general. The Wrestling Association of Meghalaya was formed only in 2022 and all the 11 wrestlers who represented the state at that year’s North East Olympic Games had jumped over to the sport from mixed martial arts (MMA).
Speaking on the sidelines at the 5th Meghalaya Games, Ringchi said, “I trained for six days under my coach. I am really happy today as I am the first woman wrestler from Tura who won a silver medal.”
Undeterred by her novice status, Ringchi’s determination and passion propelled her through the competition, showcasing the untapped potential within the region.
