Tura, Jan 19: Medals are being snatched in record numbers across various disciplines here at the 5th Meghalaya Games as the biggest sporting extravaganza ever to happen in Tura is scaling up for a grand finale, in less than two days from now.
Day four of the games has displayed the immense potential and talent of the youth in Meghalaya and even led to discoveries of child prodigies like Mebanrilang Lyngdoh Marshiollong of West Khasi Hills in gymnastics (gold), Veronica Severa Sangma and Dangdikchi Marak of Tura in the under 14 and under 17 age categories of martial arts Taekwondo alongside Dayalanki Challam of East Khasi Hills, all winning gold.
These games have sprung many a surprise in various forms like the heartwarming participation by mother and daughter duo of shooters. 44-year-old mother Marbarisha M Pdah and her 24-year-old daughter Toiaibha M Pdah were rubbing shoulders in the rifle and pistol shooting categories on Thursday at the shooting range at 2nd MLP police battalion headquarters in Goeragre, 13 kms from Tura, making a unique record at the games.
East Khasi Hills continues to dominate the games with their scintillating performance and a staggering tally of 247 medals including 92 gold medals, a historic performance.
Hosts West Garo Hills, which at the start of the games was comfortably placed in second position and attempting to catch up with front runners Shillong, has slid further down and is now holding onto the 4th position on day 4 of the games. West Garo Hills has just 42 medals including 10 gold.
The biggest surprise have been teams of West Jaintia Hills and Ri Bhoi, who dethroned West Garo Hills, quickly emerging as a force to reckon with lapping up multiple medals including 17 and 12 gold medals, respectively, in just a span of two days.
South Garo Hills remains the only district of the state to miss a gold, so far.
Two sports disciplines at the games have seen sheer domination by two different districts of the state. East Khasi Hills in Taekwondo martial arts and Garo Hills springing a surprise in the Javelin sport at the athletics stadium on Thursday.
The gold in both the javelin events of the men and women category was won by Garo Hills athletes, namely, Praichi G Momin of North Garo Hills with a record throw of 29.87 meters distance and Tushal M Sangma, also of North Garo Hills, at a distance of 48.55 meters.
Garo Hills also took home the silver and bronze (men) and bronze in women, Ri Bhoi’s Melibad Kro being the lone challenger to win silver in the women’s category.
The Pa Togan Nengminja Athletic Stadium was the biggest crowd attraction of the day as the athletic events winded up for the games with a series of competitions.
The champions crown in athletics went to West Jaintia Hills with 17 medals including 8 gold. Ri-Bhoi district spun a surprise edging out East Khasi Hills to snatch the runners up title with 15 medals, including 6 gold. North Garo Hills was the only district in Garo Hills to walk away with 2 gold at the athletic championships.
East Khasi Hills were the masters in Taekwondo event bagging the most gold, although Garo Hills, particularly Tura, putting up a brave front to snatch a couple of medals, including gold in the junior category.
For the first time Wrestling, Archery and Weightlifting has been played in Tura and these Olympic sporting events have uncovered hidden talents among the youth.
The combat sport of grappling or wrestling that took place at St Mary’s school in Tura saw East Khasi Hills snatch a total of 34 medals, including 9 gold, while hosts Tura managed to bag 12 medals, including 1 gold.
Another star show of the day in the sporting arena was in Weightlifting at the Sericulture amphitheatre that drew large crowds eager to witness this Olympic sport for the first time in Garo Hills.
Ri Bhoi turned out to be the champions in weightlifting taking home 7 medals including 4 gold and 3 silver. East Khasi Hills bagged 5 medals that included 1 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze.
But it was underdogs West Garo Hills that sprang a surprise in the wild card category with Raksil N Sangma giving a superb performance to steal the show, winning gold in the 67 kg category, while Chukam N Marak and John Teng Subat D Sangma took home the bronze medals in different categories in weightlifting.
As the games progress to another day of sports, Meghalaya witnesses a skill set of untapped potential amongst the youth in the state.
With the day 4 of the games coming to an end and the finals of the Games closing in, the state is yet to spectate what the athletes have in store for us.
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