27th North East Games begins
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 08 2013: Manipur Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi asserted that players from the North East Region has been playing important role in bringing up the country in the limelight of international sports by winning medals and accolade in various international championshps including Olympics.

He was speaking as Chief Guest at the opening ceremony of the 27th NE Games here.

The biggest sporting extravaganza of the North Eastern India, the 27th North East games 2013 (Men & Women) kicked off today at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium, Imphal with Chief Minister O Ibobi as the Chief Guest.

Departmen of Youth Affairs & Sports is hosting the NE Games under PYKKA.

Speaking at the occasion, Ibobi said that Manipur, which has been known for its skill and tactfullness in warfare, is also known for its dedication and superlative performance in the field of games and sports.

The Games began as North East Festival in the year 1986-87 with Imphal as the host.

After a long journey, it was renamed as North East Games from 2008 onwards.

Ng David won the first gold medal of Manipur in men's 800m race

He further said that players from the North East have been putting their souls in every championships and winning medals for the county.

Players from Assam, Nagaland, Tripura and Manipur represented India in the 2012 London Olympics made the NE region proud.

Boxer Mary Kom made history in the London Games by winning a bronze medal which is India's maiden in women's boxing in the Olympics.

Manipur won overall team champion in the 5th National Games which was held in Imphal.

Moreover, the National Sports Academy at the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex has been providing standard training facility to young sportspersons of the North East India.

The state government is also doing whatever it can to develop Sports with the help from the North Eastern Council (NEC), he said.

Later, the Chief Minister recieved the salutes of the march past contingent and declared the 27th edition of the North East Games open.

International Taekwondo player of Manipur Joypriya conducted the oath taking ceremony.

PHED, Labour & Employment Minister I Hemochandra and Parliamntary Secretary of YAS M Prithviraj graced the opening ceremony as President and Guest of Honour respectively.

The sporting extravaganza will continue for four days and will conclude on April 11.In the first day, Manipur won three gold, two silver and one bronze medals and top the medal tally.

Assam was in the second place with one gold, two silver and one bronze medals while Nagaland with one gold and one silver was in the third place.

Ng David won the first gold medal of Manipur.

He won the first gold medal in men's 800m race.

Ajoy Proja of Assam won silver while the bronze was won by Jafar Ali of Tripura.

In Women's 1500m race, S Thabaton Chanu of Manipur won gold while Shoniu of Nagaland and Anung Wangsu of Arunachal Pradesh won the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Ronsenmeren of Nagaland won gold in Men's 100m race.

Ch Chitaranjan of Manipur and Momin Gogoi of Assam won the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Assam's Nibedita Barman won the gold medal in Women's 100m race while the silver and bronze medals were won by Pujaita Deb of Tripura ad M Priya of Manipur respectively.

Kh Sanjita Chanu of Manipur won gold medal in Weightlifting in Women's 48 kg by lifting 166 kg in total.

She lifted 76 kg in clean & jerk and 90 kg in snatch.

Lolro Peki of Mizoram with a total lift of 102 kg (47 in clean & jerk and 55 in snatch) won the silver medal while the bronze medal was won by Bina Das of Tripura by lifting 101 kg in total (45 in clean & jerk and 56 in snatch).

In men's 56 kg category, Arunachal Pradesh's Tinchat Wangsu won the gold medal by lifting 184 kg in total.

He lifted 79 kg in clean & jerk and 105 kg in snatch.

Ch Rishikanta of Manipur won the silver by lifting 174 kg in total (78 kg in clean & jerk and 96 in snatch).

Budhiram Sonowal of Assam with a total lift of 155 kg in total (70 in clean & jerk and 85 in snatch) won the bronze medal.

In women's football, host Manipur blanked Mizoram with seven goals and won the first match played at Artificial turf ground, Khuman Lampak.

Chandrajini, Ibeyaima, Umapati and Keinakumari of Manipur scored one goal each in the 27th, 42nd, 43rd and 47th minutes of the match respectively while their teammate Bindyarani scored three goals in the 30th, 56th and 61st minutes.

In the second match of women's category played at Artificial Turf Ground, Mizoram defeated Tripura 3-2 in a tough fight.

Both teams played the match with high determination to win the match.

Ruma Deb Berma of Tripura drew the first blood of the match in the 2nd minute of the match.

Mizoram equalised the goal in the 37th minute through Grace Lalrampari.

Mizoram took the lead in the 53rd minute when Offee scored a goal against Tripura.

It was soon equalised by Tripura's Kabata Janatia with her goal in the 63rd minute of the match.

Minutes later, Offee with scored a brace in the 68th minute and sealed the fate of the match with Mizoram as winner.

In men's football, Mizoram blanked Nagaland with a solitary goal to win the first match played atMapal Kangjeibung, Imphal.

The solitary goal of Mizoram was scored in the 22nd minute of the match by Lalchhuan.

In another match, host Manipur defeated Assam with a solitary goal in a closely contested match.

The solitary goal of Manipur was scored by Kh Vicky in the 6th minute of the match.

Assam tried their best to equalise the score but all their efforts failed against the determined players of Manipur.

Tripura and Meghalaya played a goalless draw in the third match of men's category.

Both teams played the match with firm determination to win.

However, they could not break the deadlock and score any goals.