Arunachal’s weightlifters did not live up to expectations
Weightlifters Shankar Lapung and Boney Mangakhaya failed to live up to expectations as they finished fourth and sixth respectively in their weight categories at the 37th National Games weightlifting event at Camp Sports Village in Goa on Wednesday.
Competing in the men’s 61 kg body weight category, Lapung lifted 112 kg in the snatch and 142 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 254 kg.
Arunachal weightlifter Charu Pesi, representing the Services Sports Control Board, won the gold medal in this category. He lifted a total of 267 kg (snatch 116 kg + clean and jerk 151 kg).
The silver medal and bronze medal were won by Siddhant Gogoi of Assam and Subham T. Todkar of Maharashtra respectively.
While Gogoi lifted a total weight of 266 kg, Todkar lifted 263 kg.
Pesi had represented his state and won the gold medal in the last edition of the National Games held in Gujarat last year.
Competing in the women’s 51 kg category, Mangakhya lifted 74 kg in the snatch and 101 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 175 kg.
Manipur’s Phamdom Ranibala Devi won the gold medal by lifting a total weight of 196 kg. He lifted a record weight of 90 kg in snatch and 106 kg in clean and jerk.
The silver medal in this category was won by Shraboni Das of West Bengal by lifting a total of 187 kg (81 kg in snatch and 106 kg in clean and jerk).
On Thursday, lifters Bengia Tani, Markio Tarrio, Balo Yalam and Posen Kongkang will compete in their respective weight categories.
Arunachal has fielded a total of 37 athletes at the Games. The state will compete in athletics, boxing, judo, pencak silat, taekwondo, weightlifting and wushu.
Arunachal has not yet opened its medal account in the games.
Education Minister Taba Tedir, who is also the President of the Arunachal Olympic Association (AOA), and AOA Secretary General Bamang Tago are camping in Goa to encourage the state’s athletes at the Games.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally inaugurate the games on Thursday.
