Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has expressed happiness over Indian boxing legend MC Mary Kom advanced to the final of 21st Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2018 being held at Gold Coast in Australia.
In a battle of veterans as 35-year-old Mary Kom took on the Sri Lanka’s 39-year-old Anusha Dilrukshi Koddithuwak and Kom prevailed 5-0 in a dull 48kg category contest.
Speaking to media on the side-lines of an event, Biren also lauded the winning of country’s first two gold medals in the CWG by Manipuri weightlifters Saikhom Mirabai Chanu and Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu.
On April 6, Chief Minister Biren announced cash award of Rs 15 lakhs each for two Manipuri Ningols (meaning Manipuri daughters) Mirabai and Sanjita for winning gold medals in the ongoing CWG.
According to Manipur government rules, a cash prize of Rs 15, Rs 10 and Rs 8 lakhs would be awarded to all the state players who won gold, silver and bronze medals respectively in the CWG.
By lifting a total of 192 kg which included a CWG record of 84 kg in the snatch and 108 kg in clean and jerk, Kh Sanjita Chanu finished first in the women’s 53 kg weightlifting finals on the second day of the Games in Gold Coast on Friday.
Defending champion Loa Dika Toua of Papua New Guinea was a distant second with 182 kg while New Zealand’s Rachel Leblanc-Bazinet took bronze with 181 kg.
Sanjita had also won gold in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games in the women’s 48 kg category. This is India’s third medal in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
“Eight players from my tiny state, which is having only 0.22% of populations of India. Till today two Gold medals for my India. Really a proud moment,” CM Singh tweeted.
