n cricket, former India captain Sandip Patil visited the state in February in the capacity of Director of Cricket Operations National Cricket Academy, Bangalore. Patil batted for developing cricket infrastructure in the state with assistance from the BCCI. Patil’s trip was followed by visits from former India players Karsan Ghavri and Samir Dighe who were in the city for BCCI’s coaching camp for the affiliate and associate member states in which four players from Meghalaya also participated.
Meanwhile, the state fared well in the U-16/19 BCCI associate member’s tourney where it finished third behind Chattisgarh and Bihar. Meghalaya Cricket Association also became the first to implement the adoption of schools in states under a BCCI initiative. As of now four schools from the state are expected to reap the benefits of the programme under which coaching and infrastructural facilities along with scholarships will be provided to deserving candidates. Meanwhile, the Shillong Cricket Association dominated in the playing arena wining the Inter-District tourneys in both U-19 and U-16 categories. “The focus in 2012 would be to take the game to the rural areas of the state,” Naba Bhattacharjee, hon secretary, MCA said.
In table tennis, Tanushree Das Gupta, Camelia Diengdoh and Bianchi Ch Sangma of the Meghalaya Cadet and Junior TT team reached the pre-quarterfinals of the 73rd National Table Tennis Championships held at Kochi in December. It was for the first time that the state sub junior girl’s team has made it to the pre-quarterfinal stage of the championship.
In chess, six-year-old Mc.Enbok Khyllep won six points in the Under-7 category in the National Chess Championship held at Pune in August. Six year old Mc.Enbok Khyllep was only three points behind the event champion, who sored nine points. Khyllep also became the first and youngest FIDE rated player in the North -Eastern region.
