SHILLONG: The State Level Rural Sports Competition concluded on Monday at the JN Sports Complex, Polo, with the finals of archery, table tennis and badminton.
The meet witnessed the participation of more than 1,400 athletes from the different districts of the state to compete in 10 sporting disciplines.
This tournament is part of a central government initiative that aims at the mass participation in sports and games, the identification of talent and providing a platform for athletes in the rural areas to showcase their skills.
The competition certainly showed the strength of West Khasi Hills in the field of archery as the boys and girls from the district bagged almost all the medals on offer.
The boys team event was won by West Khasi Hills, while East Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi had to settle for second and third places.
In the individual events, first and second place in the 50-metre for girls was claimed by West Khasi Hills – Bakmenlin Ramsiej and Isiful Samakha – while Sunika Sangma from South Garo Hills claimed third.
The boys’ 50m event saw West Khasi Hills winning all three medals with Pynsuk Ramsiej winning gold, Marshal Pariong silver and Fullmoon Pariong bronze.
The 30m event for girls also saw a West Khasi Hills lock-out. Bakmenlin Ramsiej again claimed first place, with Isiful Samakha second and Ibilis Thabah third.
Pynsuk Ramsiej added a 30m gold to that from the 50m event, with Marshal Pariong bagging another silver. Refillson Sohshang won bronze for East Khasi Hills.
It wasn’t as one-sided in badminton, with Ri Bhoi winning the boys’ event, followed by East Khasi Hills and West Khasi Hills.
East Khasi Hills won the girls’ event, with Ri Bhoi second and East Garo Hills third.
In table tennis, the East Khasi Hills finished first, West Garo Hills were second and West Khasi Hills took third in the girls’ and boys’ events.
