SHILLONG, May 1: Lady Keane College, Shillong, bagged the inaugural Khasi Hills Challenge 1.0 (KHC 1.0) championship beating rivals, Shillong Momo Flavours and Annie Margaret Barr Children’s Village, who were placed second and third respectively, in the corporate event of the spellbinding maiden wooden kart race held at Kharang village in East Khasi Hills.
Organised by the Kharang Sports and Social Welfare Club to celebrate the state’s 50th statehood year and the club’s 50th anniversary, the ‘bol bearing race’ is the first of its kind in the country aimed to promote the local indigenous sport, which is supported by the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs.
Apkyrmen and Prishon were at the wheels for the winning team clocking 4.33 minutes and were closely followed by the Shillong Momo team (5.1 minutes) and the AMB Children’s Village team (5.4 minutes) respectively, in a 600-metre-long off-road track, according to the organisers.
Tata Frank Motors team clocked 5.51 minutes and AMB School team clocked 5.56 minutes and were placed 4th and 5th followed by Shillong Press Club team (5.59 minutes) and Frank Yamaha team, they said.
In the men’s open category, Arbokstar and Bikres won the first prize and took home Rs 20,000 completing the track run in a record 4.26 minutes while Phroidamon and Badapmon bagged the first positions in the women’s open category.
In the mountain bike challenge (XCO), Shillong Press Club’s Kevin John Khyllait won the first prize taking just 1.52 hours to complete the 26-kilometre trail while Gilbertson Wahlang (1.55 hour) of South West Khasi Hills district and Pynshngain Lyngkhoi (1.57 hour) bagged the second and third prize respectively.
Khyllait, hailing from Longki Ingding of Eastern West Khasi Hills district, was sponsored by the Shillong Press Club for his races this year. The ‘ka bol bearing race’ was also organised to promote the use of sustainable and environment friendly indigenous sports.
Over 50 enthusiastic participants partook in the event, Banjop Mukhim, club’s adviser and spokesperson, said in a statement issued here.
Indigenously designed wooden karts are found across the length and breadth of the Khasi Jaintia Hills and these wooden karts have been the environment-friendly workhorse of the people since time immemorial, Mukhim said.
