Shillong, Jan 16: Swimmers from East Khasi Hills won nine out of a possible 10 gold medals while also bagging six silver medals on the first day of the swimming competition at the 5th Meghalaya Games in Tura today.
EKH also picked up all 10 bronze medals. The only other district to take a gold was South West Khasi Hills; this district also claimed three silver medals, according to an official press release. The names of the swimmers were not provided.
In women’s wrestling, two events were held in the afternoon and all the gold and silver medals (there were no bronze on offer) went to EKH.
Breaking the trend, West Garo Hills dominated proceedings in the taekwondo (poomsae) event, winning two gold, one silver and a bronze in the three categories. The other gold medal was won by West Jaintia Hills, which also took home one silver and one bronze. Ri-Bhoi won one silver and two bronze medals while EKH won three bronze medals.
Meanwhile, in athletics, Renaldi Dhar of WJH became the fastest man of the ongoing Meghalaya Games by defeating his closest rival, Gracewin Ch Marak of South West Garo Hills by two-tenths of a second while, in the women’s category, Angelina Dhar from EKH had a comfortable victory beating her competition with more than half a second to spare.
Renaldi clocked 11.4s while Gracewin came in at 11.6. The bronze went to Ri-Bhoi’s Pilo Ronghang, who came in at 11.7s. The competition was extremely close with just half a second between first and sixth places.
Angelina had an easier time winning with a timing of 13.6s, six-tenths ahead of the second-placed Savinity Jyndiang (14.2s). The fight for silver, however, was intense, with Ibaiahun Kurbah also clocking in at 14.2 to take the bronze. There were six competitors in the 100m dash.
A total of six events were held on the first day of the athletics competition.
In the men’s competition for the 1,500m dash, gold went to Ri-Bhoi’s Skhemlang Suba, who won with a timing of 4 minutes, 4.7 seconds. WJH’s Dabit Dkhar came second with a timing of 4:08.9 while West Khasi Hills’ Banjoplang Wanniang took the bronze in 4:09.0.
In the 1,500m run for women, EKH’s Glorify Kurbah beat five other competitors with a timing of 5:04.1. Silver was taken SWKH’s Daphlin Wahlang, who clocked 5:13.5 while Balasiewdor Pathaw, also of SWKH, took bronze with a time of 5:20.3.
In the men’s high jump, Primus Ronghi of Ri-Bhoi passed 1.90m to take home gold while East Garo Hills’ Pringchang N Sangma took silver at 1.85m. Bronze went to Simeon Marak of North Garo Hills, who also passed 1.85m.
In the women’s high jump, Ri-Bhoi dominated proceedings, taking both the gold and silver medals. Gold was won by Rinalis Ingti (1.55m) with Andrisha Klein taking silver (1.45m). EGH’s Roshni Ch Marak won bronze with a jump of 1.35m.
Ri-Bhoi dominated the field in other events, winning three gold, a silver and a bronze. They were followed by EKH, which took home two gold. The other gold medal was won by WJH.
(Photo contributed)
