Northeast athletes represent India’s hopes at Rio Olympics

EM Sports Desk

Of the 120 sportspersons representing India at the ongoing Olympics in Brazil, eight athletes are from northeast India. Doing the region proud is weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (women’s 48kg), Laishram Bombayla Devi (women’s archery), Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam and Anuradha Thokchom (women’s field hockey), Khadangbam Kothajit and Chinglensana
Kangujam (men’s field hockey), Dipa Karmakar (gymnastics), and Shiva Thapa (boxing).
Dipa Karmakar, from Tripura, has made the headlines in India for qualifying for the top-eight final showdowns in gymnastics and becoming the first Indian woman gymnast to make the cut at the Olympics. She has also won a gold medal in vaults finals at the test event of the 2016 Olympics in April this year. All eyes are on Dipa where she would be competing in the finals on August 14.
In women’s hockey, India returned to the Olympics after 36 years with Sushila Chanu leading the team with a draw against Japan in the first match. But during the second match against Australia (the Australians are ranked 3rd in the world while the Indians are ranked 13th), they were outclassed 1-6. Thokchom Anuradha (Manipur) scored the lone goal with just 8.3 seconds left on the clock. The women’s hockey team will play their next match against the USA at 4.00 am IST on Friday.In men’s hockey, Chinglensana Singh and Kothajit Singh scored a goal each during the second match against Argentina. According to the Hockey India website, Chinglensana scored five times in 112 international appearances, while Kothajit netted four times in 133 games. However, it is heartening to note that the duo from the northeast played a pivotal role in India’s win over Argentina at Rio.
As for Indian weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, before the event in Rio, she broke two national records—her own, by a notch more when lifting 85kg and then the 12-year-old national record which was held by her coach and veteran weightlifter Kunjarani Devi, when she lifted 192kg.
India was hoping for a medal but during the event, she produced a disappointing performance and was unable to make an impact in the women’s 48kg category at the Riocentro Pavilion 2 arena. Chanu lifted 82 kg in the snatch event, but could not complete any of her lifts in the clean-hand-jerk. Even though she lost in the event, she has made the northeast proud by representing the country.
Archer Bombayla Devi has represented India three times i.e. 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2012 London Olympic along with Chekrovolu Swuro and this year Olympic.
India’s women’s archery team comprising of Deepika Kumari, Laxmirani Majhi and Bombayla Devi reached the quarter final but lose to Russia. The match was decided via a shoot-off were world champions Russia managed to score 25 as against to India’s 23.
In the individual match, Bombayla reached the round of 16 but was knocked out as she lost 26-28, 26-23, 27-28, 23-25 to Mexico’s Alejandra Valencia in the pre-quarters on Thursday.
Shiva Thapa was the youngest boxer to have qualified for the London Olympics in 2012. A raw boxer’s maiden Olympic appearance ended in a flash as he was ousted in the first round itself after losing to Mexico’s Oscar Valdez Fierro.
Even this year, boxer Shiva Thapa (56kg) bowed out of the Olympic Games after being out-punched by fourth-seeded Cuban Robeisy Ramirez in the opening round here on Thursday.
The 22-year-old, competing in his second Olympics, lost 0-3 in a one-sided contest in which he also ended up sustaining a cut above his left eye.
Even though the road to the Olympics has not been easy for the young athletes of northeast, they have overcome obstacles to find their way onto the global stage. They have now to prove themselves that they can achieve their dreams with hard work and dedication.
By fact, it is not easy for an athlete from the northeast to shine and find success: inadequate infrastructure and facilities are what they have to contend with too. But the few sportspersons, who have represented the region so far, do bring the region a ray of hope.
Yes, they have made the north east people proud.