Shillong, Aug 29: The Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs honoured the H Elias Memorial Higher Secondary School football team, Meghalaya sub-junior football team, track and field athletes, karateka Wandahunshisha Mawblei, coaches and managers with the Meghalaya Sports Achievement Awards here today on the occasion of National Sports Day.
Each of the awardees present received a cheque of Rs 10,000 by Sports & Youth Affairs Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh.
Mawblei and the track and field athletes – Skhemlang Suba, Primus Ronghi, Rinalis Ingty and Marso Kyndait – were all present. Due to protocols relating to the coronavirus pandemic only a few of the footballers were able to attend – Gladdy Nelcen Kharbuli, Henry Ford Nongneng and Sangti Janai Shianglong of the H Elias team and Berith Nongbri and Iaikyrmenskhem Shynret of the sub-junior team. Coaches Bobby Lyngdoh Nongbet, Jeffery Warlarpih, Donboklang Lyngdoh and Daisy Marwein were also at the function along with managers Beneslaus Khyriem and Benjamin Lyngdoh.
The four track and field athletes were felicitated for their performance in September 2019 at the 31st East Zone Junior Athletics Championship in Jharkhand, where Suba won gold in the U-18 boys’ 1,500m race, while Ronghi took silver in the U-16 boys’ high jump. Kyndait claimed two bronze medals in the U-20 men’s 1,500m and 800m races, while another bronze was earned by Ingti in the U-16 girls’ high jump.
Mawblei won a gold medal for India at the 5th Cadet, Junior, U-12 & Senior South Asian Karate Championship in November in Bangladesh.
H Elias were champions of the 60th edition of the Subroto Cup, winning the U-17 boys’ title in September in New Delhi, while the state sub-junior team won the Sub-Junior National Football Championship in West Bengal in December.
“2019 really is a year where our state can feel proud of our sporting accomplishments,” the minister said in his speech. “We should now pursue the states that are ahead of us and to do that we need to work hard, work together and be humble.”
He also praised the All Meghalaya Karate-Do Association for winning many medals for Meghalaya over the years and said that the Youth Development Cell of the Meghalaya Football Association has developed the talents of the youth in the state in a big way.
List of awardees:
Karate – Wandahunshisha Mawblei, Donboklang Lyngdoh (coach)
Athletics – Skhemlang Suba, Primus Ronghi, Rinalis Ingty, Marso Kyndait, Daisy Marwein (coach), Babira G Momin (coach)
H Elias football – Gladdy Nelcen Kharbuli, Henry Ford Nongneng, Sangti Janai Shianglong, Abhay Chettri, Wadajied Kynsai Ryngkhlem, Skillful Tariang, Benjamin Diengdoh, Ioanis Suchen, Hamedamanbha Wahlang, Wanteilang Malngiang, Tremiki Lamurong, Glennys Lynrah, Iohbor Lyngkhoi, Urbanity Makhroh, Saveme Tariang, Jefferson Kharbuli, Bobby Lyngdoh Nongbet (coach), Banjamin Lyngdoh (manager)
Sub-junior football – Berith Nongbri, Iaikyrmenskhem Shynret, Ribankyrshan Rympei, Bhaboklang Kharkongor, Teibok Nongrum, Willbeson Jaba, Wanpyrkhat Iawphniaw, Phibanroi Rynjah, Samlang Rympei, Colinsalmon Lyngdoh, Wanboklang Wahlang, Jony Bakordor Nongkhlaw, Khrawboklang Mawlong, Baniatyllilang Mawkhiew, Wallambok Shangpliang, Clifford Lytan, Samchaphrang Lato, Daminot Wahlang, Jeffery Warlarpih (coach), Franklin Sohphoh (physio), Beneslaus Khyriem (manager)
(TSR photo)