Northeast Olympic Games 2022: Manipur edges Assam to win overall champions title; Nagaland in 5th place

Dimapur, Nov. 16 (EMN): Manipur were named the overall champions at the 2nd Northeast Olympic Games (NEOG) on Wednesday, defending their crown from NEOG 2018.

Manipur finished with 88 gold, 75 silver and 77 bronze medals, with Assam in second place (79 gold, 61 silver, 63 bronze).

Arunachal Pradesh secured the third place with 39 gold, 36 silver and 37 bronze.

Hosts Meghalaya, rose from sixth place in 2018 to fourth this year. Four years ago the state won just three gold medals but finished with 36 gold, along with 35 silver and 78 bronze this year.

Nagaland finished in fifth place with 18 gold, 17 silver and 43 bronze medals.

The chief minister presented the overall champions trophy to Manipur, the runner-up trophy to Assam and the third place trophy to Arunachal Pradesh.

The flag of the NEOG was handed over to Kharshiing, who presented it to the Chef de Mission of Nagaland, Neilyalie Angami, as the next hosts of the NEOG.

Dignitaries at the closing ceremony were the Chief Guest, Chief Patron of the Games and  Chief Minister Shri Conrad K Sangma; Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh; Cabinet Minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar; Chairman of the Meghalaya State Planning Board Abdus Saleh; MLA Kimfa Sidney Marbaniang;Chief Secretary Donald P Wahlang; Commissioner and Secretary of Sports and Youth Affairs, Dr. Vijay Kumar D; Director General of Meghalaya Police, Dr. Lajja Ram Bishnoi; and Secretary General of the Northeast Olympic Association, John F Kharshiing.

“I congratulate each and every one of you,” Sangma told the gathered athletes, according to an update.

 “These Northeast Olympic Games have not only raised the bar in terms of infrastructure and arrangements but the performances of our athletes have been out of this world.That is the most satisfying thing about these Games and I am proud to see the level of talent we have in the Northeast. I am also proud to be able to hold Games at a level that is comparable to anywhere else in the country. This was only possible because everyone worked as a team. These Games have proven that if you work as a team and dedicate yourself then nothing is impossible,” he said.

He also congratulated the top three states and praised the Meghalaya contingent, especially the athletics team, which topped their discipline.

Dr. Vijay Kumar also praised all those involved in NEOG 2022 for the tremendous work that they have put in over the last few months to make the Games the huge success that it was.

“The responses from athletes and visiting state officials have been overwhelming. As organisers, it is very gratifying,” he said. “To prepare our venues and organise accommodation for 3,000 athletes has been a huge task. Huge infrastructure has been put up very quickly. All this has been possible because of team effort, Team Meghalaya. I thank our Honourable Chief Minister, our team leader, for pushing us to make the Games a success,” he added.