By Our Reporter
Shillong, March 22: Meghalaya added to their medal tally with a seventh silver and numerous bronze medals on the penultimate day of the 3rd North East Games held in Nagaland on Friday. The state’s athletes showcased their prowess, bringing the total count to 2 gold, 7 silver, and 36 bronze medals as of Friday evening.
Bhalang Shadap secured a silver medal for Meghalaya in the men’s 67kg boxing category, delivering an impressive performance that earned him a podium finish. Additionally, six other pugilists displayed commendable efforts but settled for bronze medals after reaching the semifinals.
Among them were Sanjeev Maskut (48kg), Khrawbok Marwein (51kg), Banjop Nongkhlaw (54kg), Sunil Limbu (57kg), Ram Lyngdoh (60kg), and Riteeka Sarki (57kg), with Sarki being the sole female boxer in the group.
In basketball, the state women’s team secured a spot in the final by defeating Nagaland with a scoreline of 60-45 in the semifinals, guaranteeing themselves at least a silver medal. However, the men’s team failed to advance to the semifinals. The much-anticipated final will take place on Saturday, marking the concluding day of the Games.
Taekwondo also contributed to Meghalaya’s medal haul with Honda O Hi Papang and Asha Sunar clinching bronze medals in the 80kg men’s and 40kg women’s categories, respectively. Evadahunshisha Kharmudai added another bronze in the 43kg women’s weight category.
In freestyle wrestling, Iohtilyn Wankhar (50kg) and Mondashisha Marwein (57kg) secured bronze medals for Meghalaya, showcasing their skill and determination on the mat.
Adding to the bronze medal count, Meghalaya’s men’s compound archery team secured third place by defeating Sikkim with a score of 210-207. The team comprised Phermiki Salahe, Leonaldo Lyngdoh, Ernesaiborson Lyngdoh, and Sumit Kumar Choudhury.
In other events, Sasha Kharbuli faced defeat in the quarterfinals of women’s singles tennis against an opponent from Assam, concluding the day’s action-packed events at the 3rd North East Games.
The 3rd North East Games 2024 witnessed an electrifying turn of events on Day 4 as Manipur surged ahead, seizing the lead in the medal tally. With an impressive haul of 32 Gold, 22 Silver, and 24 Bronze medals, totaling an outstanding 78 medals, Manipur’s athletes showcased their exceptional prowess, setting the stage for a nail-biting finale.
As Manipur takes the lead, all eyes are now on the final day tally to see if Nagaland can reclaim its position at the top. With 31 Gold, 22 Silver, and 28 Bronze medals, totaling 81, Nagaland remains a formidable contender, determined to leave no stone unturned in the quest for victory.