Shillong, Sept 06: The Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, today, attended the felicitation ceremony of the winners of the World Arm Wrestling Championship which was held at Moldova.
The program was organized by the Meghalaya Arm Wrestling Association at KJP Assembly Hall and was also attended by Sports Minister, Shakliar Warjri, MDC, Malki, Director of Sports, Pastor Bantei Mylliempdah, President and Secretary of MSOA, Sports Secretary of KSU Central Body, and Vice President of FKJGP besides the family of the winners.
In his opening remarks, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma said, they know that it is not easy to win at an international level in any sports discipline and would imagine that it would take passion, dedication, perseverance and hard work and we never thought that we would produce champions from a small state like ours and this is all by the grace of God.
“I am happy to have been able to help in a some way financially from the Chief Minister’s Development Fund. It is a lifetime investment not just in accolades but also the forging character, discipline and the maturity to even accept defeat that the government has been pushing in the last few years.”
Speaking about the initiatives of the government to improve Sports, the Chief Minister emphasised that the government has invested immensely in Sports infrastructure in the last few years.
He further said that various sports associations in different disciplines were also given financial assistance to improve and manage sports and added, “There is an impact of the Meghalaya Games where there is improvement in infrastructure not just in sports assets but in school infrastructure. There is an overhaul in infrastructures where the games are held.”
The Chief Minister also announced that there would be an Iner Constituency Football Tourment with a total of 60 teams from all constituencies competing of which would be held after the Meghalaya Games. He said that other sports disciplines would follow and would recieve support and platforms for their discipline to gain prominence.
In his speech, Sports Minister, Shakliar Warjri congratulated the winning athletes and encouraged them adding that the government will continue its best to support the State Arm Wrestling Association.
Atheletes who were felicitated included, Senebi Syngkli (Bronze medalist both in left and right hand women’s 55 kg Youth category), Mihsngewbha Rymbai (Silver medalist both left and right hand women’s 80 kg Grandmaster category), Starina Jasaiñ (Silver medalist in left hand and bronze medalist in right hand women’s 60 kg grandmaster category).
Hubert Paliar (Bronze medalist in left hand men’s 60 kg Para Senior HI category), Margaret Pathaw (Bronze medalist in Left hand and Silver medalist in Right hand women’s 60 kg Master Category), Donbor Rumnong won as Mr Asia Pacific Senior Category Gold Medalist and Overall Men’s Physique 2024 and the First Athlete from Meghalaya to get a PROCARD to Philippines, Manila City.
Johnny Nongrum is the winner of Middle Weight 6th Bidang Fighting Championship. Team India won a total of 15 medals in the World Arm Wrestling Championship held at Moldova out of which 9 medals were won by the athletes from Meghalaya.
