Hijam Ranjana Devi
- An Arm Wrestler -

By Leivon Jimmy Lamkang *

Manipur is a state known for its potential for sports producing many unique sports-persons in different field. It wont be wrong to say that the sense of determination, devotion and sacrifice that athletes have, is a reserved quality of Manipur, unlike other sports-persons in the country. Hijam Ranjana Devi, a top women Arm Wrestler of Manipur, is among the same strand of unique players. Besides the love for her game, she has a unique sense of sacrifice which could be distinguished from the rest of the players.

Hijam Ranjana during an Arm Wrestling match

The remarkable feature of her is not the number of medal she won, but her adamant stand showing her true sense of great sacrifice, devotion and determination. Hijam Ranjana, 39 years of age, is not only an arm wrestler but also a housewife, a mother and a gym instructor by profession. Originally hailing from Kwakeithel Kongjen Leikai of Imphal Manipur, she is married to an Assamese man, Jayenta Medhi, and is settled at Guwahati, Latasin, Assam, with a daughter for about 7 years now. She is the eldest among the five siblings and the only child to have enthusiasm in Sports.

She stepped into the field of Arm Wrestling in 1990 and had represented Manipur in different events including National and Internationals. Apart from winning number of medals in the National Arm Wrestling Championship, she has been twice awarded the 'Asian Champion of Women Arm Wrestling' in 70 kg and also participated in World Championship. She tied the knot with Jayenta Medhi, an Arm Wrestling Referee and Official of Assam Wrestling Association, in the year 2003 and gave birth to a daughter in 2004.

Hijam Ranjana during an Arm Wrestling match

Even after her marriage, Hijam Ranjana winning streak continues, however things became not as easy as it used to be. This is the stage where she had to face a lot of challenges ahead of her. Challenges of being a mother, a wife at one hand and on the other the questions of her career as an Arm Wrestler. The biggest challenge is the fact that she is still representing Manipur till date even after being married to an Assamese man and settled at Assam !

Things, however, never got complicated till date for her representation for Manipur, as she revealed that no one has objected for what she is doing. Hijam Ranjana said that her husband and her in-laws has been very supportive and always lended a helping hand for what she likes. But there always has been doubts and questions for why she is doing this.

Hijam Ranjana during an Arm Wrestling match

Humorous teasing is very common among families, friends and colleague that "I'm barking for someone else", Hijam Ranjana laughed. According to her, sometimes, she has guilty feelings when serious suggestions and advise for her poured in - whether she wants to represent Assam since she is now staying in Assam and moreover of her husband profession, an Assamese referee and an officials of Arm Wrestling Association of Assam.

Hijam Ranjana said the reason for what she is doing is for the love of her state. She revealed that she is very desperate to do something for the state during her career as an Arm Wrestler like bringing a big name for Manipur. What she desire to be retired as a player of Manipur.

As far as her career is concerned, Hijam Ranjana likes to push her career to the highest level and till age permits her to do so. She recently won a gold medal for 80 plus Kg in the 34th National Arm Wrestling Championship, 2010 held at Imphal, Manipur. And hoping to do the same in the upcoming Maskwa Asian Championship to be held in Guwahati. One of her most important target as an Arm Wrestler is to make it and win in the Master Group.

Hijam Ranjana during an Arm Wrestling match

But Hijam Ranjana said that the hurdle in Arm Wrestling is the unpopularity of the game among the common people and (concerned) authorities pay less attention to the game. People under-estimate the sport capability that every one (or anyone) can become an Arm Wrestler ... but this thinking is not true, she said.

In response to how she manages to trained herself with her multi-role as part time profession as women gym instructor, as a mother, a housewife, Hijam Ranjana said that her timing in the Gym starts from 6 am to 10 am for morning session and 4 pm to 7 pm for evening session. She gets to practice when the class of either morning/afternoon session is over and at home she practice with her husband’s equipment and a tip from her husband who was once an arm wrestler. However as a player of Manipur, she never gets the opportunity to participate in the group training session camp held in Manipur due to time and distance problems.



Achievements of Ranjana in Senior National Women Arm Sport Championship:

Year	Position	Weight Category	Place
1991	First	70 Kg	Kerala
1992	Third	80 Kg	Guwahati
1995	First	70 Kg	Shillong
1996	First	70 Kg	Guwahati
1997	Second	70 Kg	Jabalpur (M.P.)
1999	Second	65 Kg	Punjab
2000	First	65 Kg	Orissa
2001	Third	65 Kg	Guwahati
2002	First	70 Kg	Delhi
2006	First	70 Kg	Andhra Pradesh
2007	First	70 Kg	Haryana
2008	First	70 Kg	Shillong
2010	First	80+ Kg	Manipur

Achievements of Ranjana in Senior International Championship Arm Sport Women:

Year	Position	Weight Category	Place
1997	Participated (World Meet)	70 Kg	Guwahati
2000	First (Asia)	70 Kg	Calcutta
2003	First (Asia)	70 Kg	Guwahati

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Leivon Jimmy Lamjkang

* Leivon Jimmy Lamkang is a young Writer/Reporter from an Imphal-based daily. He contributes regularly to e-pao.net This article was webcasted on August 30, 2010.

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