Sportsdesk, 27th October: In a spectacular performance, weightlifter Phamdom Ranibala from Manipur claimed the first gold medal for her state at the 37th National Games hosted by Goa, even before its official inauguration. Ranibala’s exceptional performance in the women’s weightlifting competition set a new national record.
Competing in the 55 kg division of women’s weightlifting, Phandom Ranibala showcased her remarkable strength by lifting 90 kg in the snatch, breaking the previous national record of 86 kg held by Mirabai. She continued her remarkable run by recording 106 kg in the clean and jerk, securing the top honor in this category. The event took place at the Campal Open Ground in Panjim.
The 37th National Games, which commenced on October 25, 2023, and will run until November 9, 2023, has already witnessed an outstanding achievement from Manipur’s athletes. Manipur is represented by 560 participants at the event, including 406 players (comprising 180 men and 226 women), 76 coaches, 56 team managers, and 22 officials from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs (MOA), among others. The Manipur contingent is competing in 26 of the 48 disciplines featured in the games.
This early gold medal victory sets a promising tone for Manipur’s participation in the 37th National Games, with high expectations for more impressive performances from the state’s athletes. In the previous edition of the National Games held in Gujarat, Manipur finished ninth overall, securing a total of 50 medals, including 20 gold, 10 silver, and 20 bronze across 21 different sports.
Read more: Meghalaya: Deputy CM alleges Assam as the source of pollution in Byrnihat