(From left) Bhargabi Gogoi, Manjyoti Rava, Fariha Zaman and Meriline Gogoi. Picture by S.H. Patgiri

NATIONAL SCHOOL GAMES

Guwahati, Dec. 26: Assam made a huge splash at the 49th National School Games in Surat recently, reaping 10 medals from the pool and five from the badminton court.

The swimmers bagged five golds, two silvers and three bronzes, while the shuttlers clinched two golds, two silvers and three bronze medals in the meet.

Fariha Zaman set the pace for the swimmers, setting a new record in the 50-metre backstroke with 35.04 seconds to clinch the gold. She bettered her own mark of 35.54 seconds in the process.

Fariha, a student of Little Flower High School here, took her tally to a triple by winning the 100-metre backstroke gold and 50-metre butterfly bronze.

The state girls’ 4x100 m medley relay team, comprising Fariha (backstroke), Sumi Buragohain (breaststroke), Meriline Gogoi (butterfly) and Bhargabi Gogoi (freestyle), bagged the gold.

Sumi won an individual gold in the 200-metre breaststroke. Bhargabi clinched the 200-metre backstroke gold and the 100-metre backstroke silver.

Manjyoti Rava won a silver medal in the 50-metre freestyle and bronzes in the 100-metre and the 200-metre freestyle events.

In badminton, Suranjan Bhobora claimed the under-17 individual gold. The state under-17 boys’ squad, comprising Suranjan, Dibyajyoti Bora, Kunal Bora Dey, Ankurman Gogoi and Anshuman Bora, clinched the team title.

Anjali Kalita finished runner-up in the girls’ individual under-19 and the under-14 boys’ team, comprising Nirabjyoti Bora, Nikhilesh Sarma, Hirakjyoti Neog, Cheerosmony Borah and Ujjaljyoti Dutta, also took the silver.

The girls’ under-19 team — that had Anjali, Twina Bora and Dimple Hazarika — came third. The under-14 girls — Rituparna Kalita, Sumana Phukan, Pronali Phukan, Roselina Begum and Priyadarshini Diphusa — also had to settle for the bronze.

Dibyajyoti Bora increased the tally for Assam, bagging a bronze in the boys’ under-17 singles.