Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 07 2009:
Host Tripura upstaged Manipur as the regional champions as the 23rd North East Games concluded at Agartala today with the latter finishing the annual event with a haul of 37 gold, 19 silver and 32 bronze medals.
The closing ceremony of the Games was held at the Dasharat Deva Stadium with Tripura Governor BM Sahai as the chief guest.
besides individual events, the final day saw manipur claiming the gold in men's football defeating Tripura 5-2 via tie-breaker, women's football with a 3-0 win over Mizoram while in hockey final Tripura pipped manipur 5-3 in penalty shoot-out after normal period ended in a 2-2 deadlock.
In weightlifting, Leirentombi won the women's 75 plus competition pushing the State's medal tally to nine gold and three silver.
State shuttlers had to content with one silver and three bronze in the competition after W james faltered in the men's final against Joseph of Nagaland at 15-21, 13-21 while in table tennis the medal count was one silver and bronze each after Ranjan went down to his Assam rival in the men's singles final.
Mahesh added a gold to the State's medal haul in swimming with victory in the men's 50 metre breast stroke as L Bankim secured the silver in 100 metre free style final to take the tally to four gold, three silver and six bronze medals.
Athletes provided nine gold, eight silver and nine bronze medals with the addition of four of the yellow metal, three silver and a bronze on the last day.
The 23rd North East Games which began from February 4 witnessed sportspersons from States of the region compete in various disciplines for regional supremacy.
For the record, manipur missed the overall top position for only the second time in the Games' history.