Shillong, Oct 23: A four-member team will represent the Meghalaya Athletics Association at the 39th National Junior Athletics Championship 2024 in Bhubaneshwar.
The small state contingent left yesterday for the 25th to 29th October event in Odisha.
Pleasantly Synnah is leading the team as coach and manager. Only athletes who have met the entry standard of the Athletics Federation of India are eligible to take part.
The four athletes from Meghalaya are Rikangku D Sangma (U-14 boys’ javelin and triathlon B), Rukini RT Dkhar (U-16 girls’ 600m), Anrisha Klein (U-20 women’s high jump) and Donbok Shabong (U-20 men’s 400m).
Rikangku won a silver medal at the East Zone Junior Athletics Championship earlier this month, which was also held in Bhubaneshwar. Rikangku had come second in the U-14 boys’ javelin and he was fourth in triathlon B. “We are expecting him to surprise everyone in this coming national junior competition and we are hoping for good results from him,” MAA General Secretary Finely L Pariat said yesterday.
Anrisha had also taken silver at the regional event in the U-20 women’s high jump and will look to compete at the national level now.
Donbok had won Meghalaya’s only gold as part of the U-20 4x400m mixed relay team but will be competing in an individual event at the nationals, namely the 400m race.
Rukini, meanwhile, did not win a medal at the regional event but did break the AFI minimum standard and is thus eligible to compete in the 600m race. “We are also expecting these athletes to deliver their top performance,” Pariat added.
(Meghalaya Athletics Association photo)
