SHILLONG: A contingent of arm wrestlers were honoured here on Thursday after three women from the state won gold medals in the World Arm Wrestling Championship, which was recently held in Chandigarh.
Aiboklin Rina (below 70kg), Badalin Kharbyngar (below 55kg) and Diana Jyrwa (below 49kg) amazed everyone with the might and skill as they brought home gold medals in their respective weight categories.
Altogether four participants from Meghalaya represented India in the championship, including one man (Jerrybert Rangad – below 80kg).
Speaking to the media, the General Secretary of the Meghalaya Arm Wrestling Association (MAWA), Junestar Kharbuli, said that Meghalaya participated for the first time in such a tournament and the sport has a good potential in the state but the government has overlooked the talent of the youngsters.
“We have never been able to send our players to participate in foreign countries because just the association itself cannot afford the expenses,” Kharbuli added.
Arm wrestling suffers in part because it is not an Olympic sport, with only limited participation at an organised level.