Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, November 22:
Manipur leads the medal tally on the third day, and considering there are still a number of other events where the state's gold prospects are high, the tally is expected to improve considerably.
However, what exactly are the prospects of Manipur retaining the overall championship they won in Imphal in 1999? The predictable answer is, dim.
This is because a number of sports disciplines in which Manipur literally domineers in arenas across the countries have been dropped from the Punjab edition of the National Games.
Among these are Triathlon, in which Manipur won 3 golds, a silver and a bronze in the last games, Taekwondo in which Manipur won six golds the last time and Sepak Takraw in which Manipur is matchless in the country.
It would have taken all four golds at stake.
The total number of medals Manipur stands to lose because of these omissions is at least 13 golds, one silver and one bronze.
Karnataka is another big loser because of the incompleteness of the games discipline this time around.
Since aquatics too have been dropped, the state stands to lose at lease 14 golds, 11 silvers and three bronzes.
In contrast, Kerala still has its pet sports of canoeing and kayaking to bank on in the lace for the top position overall.
In the last games it won 16 golds, 11 silver and 8 bronze and all of them are up for grabs in these games.
This time too, the state is likely to make almost a clean sweep of the discipline.
If not by merit, then by default, Kerala may actually manage to avenge Manipur for the defeat it suffered in the last edition of the games.
So goes all popular predictions.