A video of a boy from Nongstoiñ has gone viral lately and the Class 8 youth, Skhem Lyngdoh, dreams of one day taking part in the Olympic Games if given the opportunity.
The video in question has even been picked up by national media. In it Lyngdoh is seen practising callisthenics, which is a form of strength training using gymnastics, on makeshift equipment in a patch of open ground in Nongstoiñ. His ability to swing seemingly effortlessly on the bars has naturally wowed thousands of people who have viewed the video.
Highland Post spoke to Lyngdoh, who said that he along with his group have been into calisthenics for the past two years. There are around 30 to 40 boys in his group.
“We have been doing this art for the past two years on a self-made bar on private property near a river here guided by my 21-year-old cousin,” he said, adding that they would love a permanent place to train.
“I have applied for my schooling in Shillong and I am interested in participating in the Olympics if I get the opportunity because we train every day,” Lyngdoh said.
Gymnastics is only a minor sport in Meghalaya and the state gymnastics association does not have much in the way of infrastructure for its young gymnasts either.
When contacted, the secretary of the Meghalaya Gymnastics Association, Lucy Mary Malngiang, said, “I have seldom seen what the boy did on the single bar. We have discussed this and we will contact the boy from Nongstoin and see if he is willing to join gymnastics and get further guidance.”
She added that Lyngdoh is still young and can make the switch to gymnastics proper.
Informing that a coach from Assam will train local gymnasts for the Meghalaya Games, set to be held in Tura in January, she said they are thinking of bringing Lyngdoh to Shillong to further train him in gymnastics if he is willing.
“If he comes it will be a blessing for other gymnasts as well. We also have a national-level coach from the Sports Authority of India that will give him better coaching in gymnastics,” she added.
Earlier HP had also spoken to John Kharshiing, the working president of the Meghalaya State Olympic Association.
“There is an opportunity for these boys because it seems they have skills and, with proper coaching, it will be a blessing for them,” he said.
Kharshiing said that the state is on the lookout for talented athletes as Meghalaya will host the National Games in a few years and gymnastics will be one of the disciplines there.
