Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 05, 2009:
Compared to the low key start to the 23rd North East Games being held in Agartala, State sports persons today put up a brilliant performance to bag 28 medals which included a rich haul of 13 gold.
In team events too, Manipur fared satisfactorily as the women footballer�s crushed Nagaland 7-0 and drew goalless against Tripura to advance into the semifinals while their male counter parts thrashed Arunachal Pradesh 6-1.Mizoram however held Manipur to a 3-3 draw in men's hockey competition.
Bulk of the gold medals culled today were fetched by State judokas with Ch Herojit winning the men's open class final, T Amarjit claiming the 81 kg title while Kh Ajit and Th Arun Meitei respectively added the 73 kg and 66 kg gold medals to the tally.
In women's judo com petitions, I Sanamacha claimed the 63 kg gold and H Ichan emulated the feat with top podium finish in the 57 kg class as Kh Rashitombi secured the women's open silver.
Weightlifting produced four gold and three silver medals when Kh Anand won the 56 kg gold, Th Open lifted the 62 kg title, L Nike bagged the 69 kg crown and Ng Mema outclassed her rivals in the 48 kg competition.
L Menjor (56 kg), L Roshnikumar (69 kg) and Kh Bidyapati (63 kg) fetched the silver medals.
While the opening day saw swimmers bag three bronze medals, the second day marked golden splash by L Mahesh in the 200 me tre breast stroke event before L Ashalata added the 200 metre breast stroke silver and L Bankim swam to the men's 400 metre free style bronze.
A Surbala became the fastest woman of the Games winning the 100 metre gold while her State-mate Asma Banu secured the bronze.
In 5000 metre men's competition, Samananda won the gold and Prcmjit the silver while Amardeep Roy leaped to the men's high jump silver and Hi mat Singh fetched the shot-put bronze.
Hemanta Singh won the men's 800 metre bronze.
Another silver was added by the women gymnasts with the men's team having to content with the bronze.
In men's individual all-round competition, H Michael claimed the bronze medal.
Manipur lost to Assam in the men's team badminton event to finish with the bronze medal.
In singles competition, RK Cinir cruised past his first round rival Jitesh Suba of Sikkim by a score margin of 21-12,21-14. The men's table tennis team also had to content with the bronze medal after suffering defeat to Assam in straight sets.