2nd Khelo India Beach Games Roji wins Pencak Silat gold to swell State’s haul to five medals

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 8 : Thokchom Roji sealed Manipur’s second gold medal at the 2nd Khelo India Beach Games being underway in Daman and Diu.
The gold medal came after Yengkhom Premchandra and Wahengbam Sudhir opened Manipur’s medal account by winning a gold medal in the Ganda event of the Pencak Silat Competition.
Thokchom Roji won the State’s second gold medal in the 50-55 kg women’s Tanding event while Yaikhom Rohit settled for a silver medal in the men’s 50-55 kg Tanding event.
Thokchom Roji, daughter of Thokchom Sonamani and Thokchom Ongbi Shanti Devi of Patsoi Part IV, works with Assam Rifles.
Yaikhom Rohit meanwhile hails from Sekta Mayai Leikai. He is the son of Yaikhom Rabi and Yaikhom Ongbi Loya.
Manipur also won two more medals in the form of bronze with women and men suffering semi-final defeats in the team events.
Manipur women’s suffered a 0-2 semi-final loss today to settle for the bronze medal today. They lost 9-15, 13-15 in the first regu and 10-15, 12-15 in the second regu.
Earlier yesterday, Manipur beat Bihar 2-1 and Goa 2-0 before going down 0-2 to Nagaland in the third league match.
State men’s team meanwhile went down by 1-2 margin in the semi-final to Delhi to bag a bronze medal.
Yesterday in the league round, Manipur beat hosts Daman and Diu 3-0 before losing 0-3 to Uttar Pradesh in the second match. Manipur, however, edged past Assam 2-1 in the third match to qualify for the semi-finals.