By Our Reporter
Shillong, Dec 6: Under the aegis of the Meghalaya Athletics Association, a four-member team from Meghalaya will compete in the 39th National Junior Athletics Championship 2024, scheduled to take place in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from December 7 to 11.
The championship, initially postponed last month due to Cyclone Dana, promises intense competition among the country’s top young athletes.
The Meghalaya team comprises four athletes: Rikangku D Sangma (U14 Boys), participating in Kids Javelin and Triathlon B; Rukini RT Dkhar (U16 Girls), competing in the 600M; Anrisha Klein (U20 Women), taking part in the High Jump; and Donbok Shabong (U20 Men), competing in the 400M. The team is accompanied by Shri Pleasantly Synnah, Athletic Coach from the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, as their coach and manager.
The athletes have shown promising performances in the past. During the 35th East Zone Junior National Athletics Championship held in Odisha two months ago, Rikangku D Sangma clinched a silver medal in Kids Javelin and secured fourth position in Triathlon B.
Meghalaya has not won a medal at the national level in athletics for a long time, and hopes are high for Rikangku to bring home a medal this time.In the same championship, Anrisha Klein won silver in High Jump, while Donbok Shabong secured gold in the 4x400M Mixed Relay.
Rukini RT Dkhar narrowly missed a podium finish, placing fourth in the 600M. Their previous performances have raised expectations for strong showings and potential medal wins at the national event.
The 39th National Junior Athletics Championship features stringent eligibility criteria, with participation limited to athletes meeting the entry standards set by the Athletics Federation of India.
Meghalaya’s delegation aims to showcase their skills, achieve personal bests, and bring laurels to the state in this prestigious competition.