Imphal, February 23 2009: Making a debut for Manipur in the history of men's senior national weightlifting championship, state lifter Leimapok-pam Bishworjit made a history by wining champion's title in the recent national championship.

He bagged the gold in men's 77 kg category in the recent Men's and Women's Senior National Weight-lifting Championship, 2009 which was held at Balwari, Pune from January 27 to January 31 last.

He took part in the championship as a lifter of services not as a state player.

He is the second son ofLeimapokpam Bheigya and Leimapokpam Ongbi Madhabi a resident of Leimapokpam Mamang Leikai.

He is rendering his service at Jamnagar of Gujarat now.

After winning the gold in the championship he did not get the chance to return to Imphal due to unavailability of leave until today where the people of his village, players and officials of Sports Authority of India (SAI) Utlou welcomed him at the Imphal Airport.

The people received him with garlands in their hands.

"Although Manipur dominates in weightlifting in the country, no man lifter has been able to win gold in any senior national championship.

I feel very proud after winning gold in men's 77 kg category in the championship for the first time in the history of Manipur," he told Hueiyen Lanpao at the Imphal Airport today.

Aged 26, Leimapok-pam Bishworjit had so far bagged two gold and two silvers in national championships.

He had also won three gold and one silver in championships of services.

He used to practice Weightlifting at SAI, Utlou under the supervision of his instructor Nepram Kunjakeshwore from the year 2001 to 2003.After that he was selected for India camp in the junior's category and prcaticed further at a SAI centre at Bangalore.

He got his appointment in the Indian Navy in the year 2005. He won gold in the year 2003 in the Open State Level Weightlifting championship.

His first gold in national championship was won in the Junior National Weightlifting Championship, 2004 which was held at Calicut of Kerala in the 77 kg's category.

He won a silver medal in the Junior National Championship, 2005 which was held at Mumbai.

He had also won silver in the championship of services in the year 2005 and one gold in 2006.He won a silver medal in 77 kg's category in the Senior National Weightlifting Championship, 2007 which was held at Vishakhapatnam.

In the same year he also won one gold in the championship of services at Chandigarh.

He also won one gold in the championship of services in the year 2008.Leimapokpam Bishworjit, a prospective lifter of the state will leave Imphal for Jhamnagar on March 26 next.

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