7th Khelo India Youth Games : T Mangaleibi wins silver in Fencing, H Shanker reaches Tennis final
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 12 2025: Takhellambam Mangaleibi stretched Manipur medal tally to 15 medals at the 7th Khelo India Youth Games being hosted by Bihar by winning a silver medal in the Fencing competition.

Competing in the foil competition, Mangaleibi suffered a 11-15 final loss to Prachi of Haryana to settle for the silver medal today.

The day also saw lone Tennis player from the State, Heisnam Shanker scripting history by securing a final berth in the men's singles competition.

Considered an underdog from the outset, Shanker was not among the favourites to reach the finals, especially with several top-seeded and nationally ranked players in the fray.

The tournament began with 16 players in the Round of 16, including five seeded players with top All India Tennis Association (AITA) and Junior International Tennis Federation (ITF) rankings.

Shanker began his campaign with a commanding win against Mizoram, cruising to victory in straight sets (6-0, 6-2).In the quarterfinals, he faced one of the tournament favourites, Hitesh Chauhan of Punjab, ranked 4th in AITA and also a Junior ITF-ranked player.

Defying expectations, Shanker delivered a clinical performance to win 6-3, 6-3.The semifinal was a test of grit and endurance as Shanker went up against Gujarat's Samarth Ujaval Sahita.

ranked 7th in AITA.

After losing the first set 3-6 and trailing 3-5 in the second, Shanker displayed extraordinary resilience.

In a remarkable turnaround, he fought back to win the second set 7-6 in a tiebreaker.

With momentum on his side and the crowd electrified by his comeback, Shanker quickly took a 3-0 lead in the final set, which ultimately led his opponent to retire from the match.

In the final, Shanker will face yet another formidable opponent - Arjun Rathi of Haryana, who is ranked 5th in AITA and also a Junior ITF-ranked player.

The match promises to be a thrilling contest between two determined young talents.

This is the first time in Manipur's history that a tennis player from the State has reached the final of the prestigious Khelo India Youth Games, a tournament widely regarded as the pinnacle of youth sports in India.

Shanker's remarkable journey is a proud moment not only for the State but also for all tennis enthusiasts in Manipur.

His achievement is a testament to determination, focus, and the untapped sporting potential in the region where tennis is yet to gain widespread popularity.

The entire State now awaits the final with hope and pride as Shanker gears up to script the next chapter of his inspiring journey.

Meanwhile, State shuttler Hemam Malemnganba missed out on a medal after losing both the semi-final and the bronze medal match.

Manipur have so far won 6 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals at the games with a chunk of 6 medals including 4 gold medals bagged by men and women Sepaktakraw teams.

With 15 medals Manipur are 9th in the medal tally with Maharashtra (35 gold, 26 silver and 25 bronze medals), Karnataka (14 gold, 21 silver and 9 bronze medals) and Rajasthan (14 gold, 7 silver and 9 bronze medals) leading on top of the table.

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