veterans’ athletics

Imphal, April 16: Hosts Manipur bagged two women’s shotput gold medals, while neighbouring Assam picked up the men’s over-65 800m gold on the first day of the 24th national veteran athletics meet, touted as the biggest sporting showpiece for retired sportspersons, at the Khuman Lampak sports complex today.

The Manipur women’s shot-putters ruled the roost with two gold, two silver and three bronze medals.

Assam also pocketed a silver and three bronze medals in various age categories of the 800m race for men, while Ghana Bora took a men’s discus silver.

State Governor Ved Marwah opened the meet. Nearly 2,000 participants from across the country have congregated here for competitions in 24 events.

However, Manipur and Assam, which have sent the largest contingents with 239 athletes, are the only two participating states from the Northeast.

Addressing the gathering at the opening ceremony, Marwah said the championship would rekindle the spirit of competition among the retired athletes, who had contributed much for the development of sports in their younger days.

The championship, hosted by the Manipur Veteran Amateur Athletics Association under the aegis of the Veteran Amateur Athletics Federation of India, has nine age-group categories.

Assam’s chief team manager Heramba Baruah said his team this time would better the Bangalore edition’s tally of 16 gold, 27 silver and 23 bronze medals.

The team is banking heavily on Premeswar Kakati, gold medallist in the world and Asian veteran meets.

Asian Games medallist Bhogeswar Baruah, who was with the Assam team, could not participate this year because of unavoidable circumstances.

Northeast winners

800m race (men)

Over-40: Gulap Singh (Manipur) bronze.

Over-50: L. Yaima (Manipur) silver.

Over-60: Naresh Chaudhuri (Assam) bronze.

Over-65: Narendra Kumar Nath (Assam) gold.

Over-70: H. Ibohal (Manipur) silver; Dulal Gogoi (Assam) bronze.

Over-75: Lalit Chandra Dulla (Assam) silver.

Over-80: Arun Chandra Dulla (Assam) bronze.

10 km walk (women)

Over-75: Seba Prasad Handique (Assam) bronze.

Discus (men)

Over-40: Ghana Bora (Assam) silver.

Shot put (women)

Over-55: Th. Binodini Devi (Manipur) silver.

Over-60: Th. Kunjarani Devi (Manipur) bronze.

Over-65: K. Mangol (Manipur) gold; Z. Ahmed (Assam) bronze.

Over-70: N. Momon Devi (Manipur) gold, H. Jamuna Devi (Manipur) bronze.

Over-75: Th. Harimati Devi (Manipur) silver.