By Our Reporter
Shillong, July 23: Swimmers from the True North Leisure Centre in Mission Compound have made a significant splash at the 17th State Aquatic Championships, securing an impressive haul of 27 gold medals along with numerous silver and bronze awards. In addition to their medal triumphs, five of these talented young swimmers received the coveted “Best Swimmers Award.”
Established six years ago, True North Leisure Centre has set a new standard for swimming facilities in the region, boasting the state’s first temperature-controlled indoor pool. The centre’s commitment to nurturing young talent has already been evident in past state events, including the Meghalaya Games.
Co-founder Robinson Jyrwa highlighted that while True North charges a fee for its members and walk-in clients—due to the substantial cost of maintaining the heated pool, especially in winter—they strive to support talented youth and those from less privileged backgrounds with reduced or no fees.
“This is a moment of immense pride for us at True North,” said Shelley Diengdoh, who coached the young swimmers. “This year, our swimmers excelled despite the tough competition of recent years. Their performance is a testament to their dedication and hard work.”
Diengdoh acknowledged the commitment required from both the swimmers and their families.
“Balancing academics with daily training was a challenge, but the unwavering support from parents—who faithfully brought their children to practice—was invaluable,” she added.
The results from this championship will feed into the selection process for the Meghalaya Swimming Association, which will choose athletes to represent the state in upcoming national events.
Diengdoh, a qualified swimming instructor with certification from the United Kingdom, expressed hope that a dedicated coach could further enhance the swimmers’ preparation for national competitions.
Cleric Jayden Wanniang, who clinched four individual gold medals, described the competition as “very fierce.” Despite limited training time due to academic commitments, Wanniang and his peers gave their best, reflecting the high level of dedication from the team.
Looking ahead, True North plans to expand its facilities with a new 25-meter indoor pool near Nongrah, matching the length of the Crinoline pool used for state championships. This new facility is expected to serve as a competitive venue and enhance the training environment for local swimmers.
True North’s owners are focused on elevating the level of competition within Meghalaya. While the state’s swimmers have shown marked improvement, they are still working towards achieving times that will enable them to qualify for national events without relying on wildcards.
The goal is to develop swimmers who can compete on merit, and everyone at True North is dedicated to making this vision a reality.