Manipur retained the Championship title for the third time in a row, claiming 132 medals including 53 gold in the 3rd North East Games 2024 which concluded in Nagaland on Saturday.
The concluding day saw Manipur picking up eight gold, four silver and three bronze medals. In all, Manipur players bagged 53 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze medals for the top finish in the games.
Tennis players made a concerted effort, claiming five gold medals on the last day of the meet. Of the six gold medals on offer in the event, Manipur picked up five gold and one silver. Assam bagged the other gold medal in the Women Team event.
Bushan Haobam and Bicky Sagolsem won the Men's Double Individual gold medal beating Khate and Whourie of Nagaland by 6-4 and 6-2 sets. Bushan Hoabam also went on to claim the gold medal in Men's Single beating Khate of Nagaland by 6-2 and 6-4 sets.
Jennifer Luikham and Charmie Nongmeikapam also fetched the gold medal of the Women's Double beating Tania Kumari and Soni Prajapati of Assam by 6-3, 7-6(3) sets. Jennifer Luikham also claimed the Women's Single title beating Justina Borgohain of Assam by 6-0 and 6-0 sets.
Manipur also went on to claim the gold medal of the Men's Team event beating Nagaland by 2-0 sets.
In the Athletic event of Cross Country, Manipur won the gold medal and a bronze medal.
Manipur also lay their hand on the football champion title, clinching the gold beating arch rival Mizoram in the final match by 2-1 goals.
As Mizoram leads the game with a goal from Issak in the 41st minute, Manipur came back strongly in the second half with Deny Singh fetching the equaliser in the 74th minute.
Manipur ever dependable midfielder Ph Sanathoi exhibited his wily skills to bang home the winning goal in 88th minute for the gold medal while Mizoram had to contend with the silver medal.
The Belt Wrestling contributed one gold, three silver and two bronze medals. The lone gold medal was bagged by M Sanathoi in 90kg while the three silvers were claimed by L Chitrabala Devi in 65kg, L Nganthoi Chanu in 55kg, L Lipson in 70kg and the bronze medals won by Thomas Laishram in 80kg, Th Priyanda in 70kg category.
