Imphal: Manipur achieved a historic milestone at the 38th National Games on January 26, with Sarungbam Athouba Meitei clinching the state’s first gold medal in the men’s individual triathlon event.
The victory was complemented by Telheiba Soram’s silver, marking a 1-2 finish for the northeastern state. Maharashtra’s Parth Sachin Mirage secured the bronze in the endurance event, which combines swimming, cycling, and running.
Athouba demonstrated exceptional stamina and consistency across all three disciplines, finishing the race in 1:01:01.
His performance at Manaskhand Tarantal in Golapar included a swim time of 09:55, a bike segment of 31:53, and a run time of 18:09.
He ranked second in swimming, first in biking, and fourth in running, showcasing his versatility and precision. Telheiba followed closely with a time of 1:02:10, ensuring a double podium finish for Manipur.
Reflecting on his achievement, the 18-year-old Athouba expressed mixed emotions, stating, “I am happy, but I don’t know why I am not very happy. I just want to keep practicing and play more tournaments to get better.”
In the women’s individual triathlon event, Maharashtra dominated with Dolly Devidas Patil clinching gold and her state-mate Mansi Vinod Mohite taking silver. Aadya Singh of Madhya Pradesh secured the bronze in a fiercely contested race.
Dolly clocked an impressive total time of 1:10:03, including a swim time of 10:35, a bike segment of 35:51, and a run time of 20:37, proving her well-rounded capabilities.
The silver and bronze medal battle was intense, with Mansi finishing just four seconds ahead of Aadya, with respective times of 1:10:43 and 1:10:47.
Celebrating her maiden National Games gold, Dolly said, “This is my first gold at any National Games, so I am happy. I practiced really hard for this. I am very relieved.”
The triathlon event, held two days ahead of the official opening of the Games in Dehradun by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, set the tone for an exciting competition, with remarkable performances across the board.
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