Source: The Sangai Express / M Romen
Guwahati, February 13:
Manipur�s commanding performance in the 33rd National Games at Guwahati continues unabated with the addition of seven more gold medals today as the State expanded its aura of invincibility winning an equestrian event gold, as well - the first time in any national Games.
The total gold medal culled by the State sports-persons so far has reached 42 in addition to 16 silver and 18 bronze medals while Services pushed Delhi (16-G, 14-S, 17-B) to third spot on 23 gold, 24 silver and 24 bronze medals.
Hosts Assam is fourth and Karnataka fifth.
State rider made its mark in equestrian event in glorious fashion when Salam Girimohan Singh triumphed in men�s individual tent pegging finals.
Manipur also won its first Athletic competition medal when Waikhom Lamnganbi Devi finished third in women�s 20 km walk as the fencers completed a clean sweep of all the gold medals on offer by pocketing the three remaining yellow metals today.
While wushu event, that contributed maximum number of medals including 14 gold so far, winded up, fencing competitions continued to sustain the State�s medal quest providing three more gold medals from team events.
Fencers have contributed 12 gold, two silver and one bronze medals to the State�s tally as taekwondo players added two more gold medals today taking the total from the contact sports event to eight along with two silver and bronze each.
Expectedly, cyclists too are also not far behind pedalling to glory in five finals including top podium finish by Ch Rameshwori Devi in 3000 metre women�s individual pursuit while her Statemate N Chaoba Devi had to be satisfied with the silver in the same event.
In women�s football defending champions Manipur pipped Assam by a solitary goal from Bembem to advance into the last four stage.
Manipur�s medal winners (February 13) 20 km walk: Waikhom Lamnganbi Devi - Bronze.
3 metre high board diving: Takhellambam Jagadish - B.Cycling 6 laps Keirin race: Konthoujam Indrakumar - S; women�s 3000 mtr individual pursuit: Ch Rameshwori Devi - G & N Chaoba Devi - B.Men�s individual tent pegging: S Girimohan - G.Fencing Women�s epee: Elangbam Gita, Sarangthem Reorita, Laishram Shyamasakhi & Moirangthem Sandhyarani - G; Women�s sabre: Thingujam Diana, Nongmaithem Harina, Wanglembam Roji & M Sandhyarani - G; Men�s foil team: Atom Chitaranjan Meitei, Haobam Manglemba Meetei, Atom romiyo Meitei & Ongnam Sovaraj - G.Taekwondo Light-weight: Mutum Joimala Devi - S; Welter: Chanambam Lilybala Chanu - G; Middle: Moirangthem Somorani Devi - G.PTI adds: Bengal held defending champions Punjab to a 1-1 draw to enter the semi final of the men�s football tournament of the 33rd National Games here today.
In the other match of the day, Meghalaya drubbed Haryana 4-0 to top group A and and set-up a semifinal clash with Tamil Nadu to be held on Thursday.
Bengal, who finished second in Group A, will meet Group �B� leaders Assam in the other semifinal.
Hosts Assam came from behind to hold a resurgent Kerala 2-2 and enter the semifinal.
Playing before a packed Nehru Stadium crowd who braved inclement weather, Bengal held on to their 23rd minute goal which came through a penalty shot.
A draw was needed for Bengal to qualify for the last four after they were thrashed by giantkiller Meghalaya in the group match.
For holders Punjab it was a tournament to forget as they were beaten by Assam and now even failed to reach the last four stage.
Hockey: Delhi need to get past defending champions Haryana while Maharashtra will have the uphill task of thwarting the Jharkhand juggernaut in the women�s hockey semifinals of the 33rd National Games here.
Delhi made it to the semifinals by posting a convincing 4-1 win over neighbours Uttar Pradesh while Haryana thrashed Orissa 7-2 to seal a berth in the last four.
Tennis: Defending champions Delhi humbled West Bengal while Tamil Nadu pipped Maharashtra to set up a gold medal clash in men�s team tennis event today.
Delhi also entered the final in the women�s team category, with a fluent 2-0 win over Karnataka at the All Assam Tennis Association Complex, Chachal.
In the other women�s semi final, West Bengal stunned formidable Maharashtra 2-1. Swimming: Karnataka ruled the waters while Delhi girl Richa Mishra�s gold conquest was thwarted on the fourth day of swimming competition.
Compared to the heady brew dished out yesterday, when five meet records were sunk, it was a lacklustre fare with Karnataka scripting the sole new mark of the evening in men�s 4x200m freestyle at the Dr Zakir Hussain aquatics complex.
Leaders Karnataka scooped up four of the six gold medals at stake to make their kitty an awesome 13. It was left to Delhi�s Sandeep Sejwal and Lekha Kamath of Maharashtra to prevent a Karnataka gold sweep.
Delhi are now a distant second with an overall haul of eight, while Maharashtra have won the remaining four gold decided in the discipline so far.
Richa, who picked up two gold medals each on the first three days, had to be content with an individual silver.
Sejwal created the new breaststroke record timing 00:30:56 breaking the feat of Andhra Pradesh�s Deepak Kumar (00:30:31) in the previous edition of the Games at Hyderabad.
Punjab�s Puneet Rana (00:30:74) got the silver, and Rohit Kumar of Delhi took the bronze in 00:31:46. The men�s 200m butterfly saw Karnataka�s Rehan Poncha garner the gold clocking 02:07:41, while his statemate Srinand Srinivas clinched the silver in 02:88:88 and Maharashtra�s Aditya Sangvekar won the bronze with a 02:11:72 finish.




