Shillong, February 6 : Meghalaya has continued its impressive performance at the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand, bringing its total medal count to five.
Following Pynshngaiñ Kurbah’s bronze medal in the Men’s Slalom K1 event yesterday, Indra Sharma, a 15-year-old sensation, won a silver medal in the Men’s Slalom C1 event. Competing against athletes with significantly more experience, Sharma’s achievement is a testament to his talent and dedication.
Adding to Meghalaya’s medal haul, Kiran Devi and B. Anandhi, two riflewomen from the Assam Rifles Rowing node, secured a bronze medal in the lightweight women’s double sculls.
Today, Meghalaya’s dominance in kayaking and canoeing continued with two more medals. Elizabeth Vincent, a renowned athlete with two bronze medals from the Asian Canoe Championships in 2024, won a silver medal in the women’s kayak cross extreme slalom event.
However, the highlight of the day was Vikash Rana’s gold medal victory in the men’s kayak cross extreme slalom event. This marks Meghalaya’s first gold medal at the ongoing National Games. Rana, a 23-year-old athlete with four years of training experience, has consistently demonstrated his skills and has actively contributed to the development of the sport by volunteering his time for various events organized by the Meghalaya Canoe Association.
The success of the Meghalaya Canoe Association at the National Games is particularly noteworthy, with all four participants who qualified for their respective events winning medals. This achievement exemplifies the successful collaboration between athletes, administrators, and the unwavering support of the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs.
With these latest victories, Meghalaya has now equaled its highest-ever medal tally at the National Games, previously achieved in 2007 in Assam.
Medal Tally:
- Gold: Vikash Rana – Men’s Kayak Cross Extreme Slalom
- Silver: Elizabeth Vincent – Women’s Kayak Cross Extreme Slalom
- Silver: Indra Sharma – Men’s Slalom C1 Event
- Bronze: Pynshngaiñ Kurbah – Men’s Slalom K1 Event
- Bronze: Kiran Devi & B. Anandhi – Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls
The Department of Sports and Youth Affairs has announced that cash awards, scholarships, and other rewards will be provided to the medal-winning athletes as per the state’s scheme guidelines. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has also announced the government’s intention to offer government jobs to successful athletes from the Games, as per the State’s Sports Policy.
These achievements at the National Games demonstrate the growing strength of Meghalaya’s sporting prowess and bring the state’s vision of establishing itself as a regional sporting powerhouse closer to reality.
