Shillong, Jan 6: The Meghalaya Taekwondo Training Academy (MTTA) bagged 10 medals at the First Indo-Nepal International Taekwondo Championship 2021 held at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh held from December 27 – 30, 2021.The MTTA, which has been associated with the Meghalaya Taekwondo Association, has represented Meghalaya in different taekwondo tournaments in both State and national tournaments.

11 players represented Meghalaya in different weight categories for both male and female.

Lanosha Marbaniang, Wansalan Dkhar, Francis Hek and Sangeeta Rabha were awarded the Gold Medal in different weight categories. Micheal Syiemlieh and Vikash Kumar Rabha were awarded Silver while Ujjwal Burua, Chandana Hajong Vrinder and Pradeep Singh secured the Bronze medals.

16 Taekwondo teams from all across the country along with a 65-members team from Nepal had participated in the said tournament.

Speaking to reporters in the city, Gold medallist Wansalan Dkhar said the Academy received little to no financial help from the Sports Department nor from the Meghalaya Taekwondo Association but only received personal sponsorship from several MLAs.

“In almost all the tournaments, we participated from our own money backed by our families… we urge the government or the concerned department to take our sports seriously” said Dkhar.

“….we don’t have proper facilities, no training mattress, no proper gears but still we went to the tournament and excelled… only if we received better treatment we can shine more” added Dkhar.