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H Leihong Konyak[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, Aug. 16 (EMN): Eighteen years old H Leihong Konyak has emerged winner in the men’s category during the recently concluded 42nd Nagaland inter-district and state open badminton championship 2018 held in Pfutsero under Phek district.
He defeated last year runners up Ankur Sangpang Rai by 21-9, 21-13 in the final match. Konyak also won the Under-19 boy’s single category during the championship.
According to the official website of Badminton Association of India, Konyak is ranked 48th for junior Under-19 players in boy’s single category of All India ranking.
In an interaction with Eastern Mirror, Konyak said, “I feel happy to be the champion; this is one of my aims in my badminton career. As a kid when I started playing,
I always wanted to win this tournament. This is just a beginning and I am looking forward to win in bigger tournaments as well.
“I am determined to work harder and represent the country at the international level and I want to achieve every big title and to be world No.1,” he said with determination.
Konyak is from Mon town, the youngest of the six siblings with a brother and four sisters. He is currently pursuing BA first semester under Gauhati University. He is also being trained at Assam Badminton Academy under Coach Edwin Iriawan since 2016.
He started playing badminton at the tender age of 10 when his dad Honshong Konyak introduced him to the game during an inter-district tournament that was held in Mon district (2010).
“From that day onwards this game fascinated me and I took it as my hobby. And gradually I started liking this game a lot and I give my best to this game, said Konyak.
Konyak started participating in the inter-district tournaments at the age of 11 and has won many titles to his name.
He wished for a badminton academy in the state in order to train young talented players as he observed that there are a lot of young raw talented players in the state.