Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 06 2009:
With the addition of 40 more medals including 14 gold, Manipur's medal haul on the penultimate day of the 23rd North East Games being held at Agartala has risen to 68.The total comprise of 28 gold and 13 silver medals.
judo competition continues to be the happy hunting ground for the State as four more gold medals were added to the tally bringing the total to 11 gold and four bronze medals.
Judokas who made top podium finishes today included T Rajesh (56 kg), Dhanapyari (40 kg), L Sushila (44 kg) and Kh Chaoba Devi (48 kg).
L Ajit (52kg) and O Jenta (60 kg) provided the bronze medals.
The boxing finals held today saw N Romesh and S Khomba punch gold respectively in the 48 kg and 81 kg competitions while Bony Sharma (51 kg), N Hemba (57 kg) and H Nanao (69 kg) contributed bronze medals.
Weightlifters also fetched four of the gold medals won today with A Budhachandra (85 kg), N Sumanbala Devi (69 kg), Kh Premila (75 kg) and Kh Joshila (69 kg) topping their respective categories as Memicha Chanu (63 kg) chipped in with the lone silver.
L Bankim swam to the men's 50 metre freestyle gold with a timing of 26.76 seconds while L Mahesh doubled the yellow metal haul winning the 100 metre breast stroke event at 1 min 15.58 seconds.
Bankim and Mahesh later teamed up with Pratap and Token to secure the 4x100 free style relay silver.
L Ashalata added another silver on 1 min 31.30 seconds in the women's 100 mtr breast stroke final.
Swimming competition also brought a bronze medal with the State quartet of Th Sorojini, M Sweety, RK Rebika and M Amrabati finishing third in the women's 4x100 freestyle relay event.
While W james advanced into final of the men's singles badminton event where he will face Nagaland's Joseph, RK Cinir faltered in the semi finals to the Nagaland shuttler and settled for the bronze.
James and Cinir also secured the men's doubles bronze medal after succumbing to the nagaland duo of Joseph and Raju as 14-21, 13-21 .
Despite losing to Tripura 2-0 in a league round encounter, manipur advanced to the summit round with a tally of four points and will take on the same opponents in the final tomorrow morning.
Title favourites Manipur stormed into the women's football final routing Sikkim 3-0 with Ph Bina netting all the goals.
The final against Mizoram will be played at 12.30 pm.
On the otherhand, the men's team was held to a 1-1 draw by the host State but advanced into the semi finals where it will play Nagaland tomorrow morning.
Athletes too contributed handsomely to the medal tally with A Rabichandra (10 km walking race), Premjit (10,000 mtr) and S Premila (10,000) breasting the tape ahead of nearest rivals.
Three silver and six bronze medal hauls rounded up the athletic events for the State athletes.
L Pinky won three bronze medals in women's gymnastics with similar number of the medal coming through H Michael Roman Ring & Pommel Horse) and N Tolongkhomkhomba (parallel Bar).
An official blunder that cost manipur a gold medal yesterday was eventually rectified today with Kh Rashitombi declared the winner in judo competition of the women's open category.