Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 26
Indian athletes today dominated the proceedings as the Nagaland Athletics Association (NAA) successfully hosted the South Asian Cross Country Championships (SACCC) and 56th National Cross Country Championships 2022 here at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima
India bagged the Men’s and Women’s 10 kilometre as well as 8 km Boys and 6km Girls Under-20 teams’ category.
Nagaland hosted the biggest sporting event in the state’s history under the aegis of South Asian Athletic Federation (SAAF) and Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
Over 600 athletes from five countries India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka joined the championships.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, cabinet ministers, various Sports Associations from Nagaland and dignitaries from Indian Olympic Association, SAAF and AFI were present at the event and gave away medals to the winners.
Later, the CM hosted a grand finale programme at Kohima Cultural Hall.
SACCC: Main Results
In team category under 10 km (Men), India, represented by trio Darshan Singh, Dipak Suhaug and Rajendra Nath, emerged 1st, while Sri Lanka, represented by RMS Pushpa Kumara, Shanmugeswaran Kumar and GMSR Wijewickrama stood 2nd.
Nepal, represented by Pal Mukesh Bahadur, Bist Santosh Bikram and Yogi Nath Santosh figured in the 3rd place.
Maldives and Bangladesh respectively were 4th and 5th position.
Likewise, in the women’s category (10 km), the Indian trio of Varsha Devi, Manju Yadav and Preenu Yadav bagged the gold medal, while Sri Lanka, represented by WM Nimesha Nidarshani, MSP Madumali Perera and HMC Samudika Herath bagged the silver. Pachhai Rajpura, Rana Phulmati and Budha Bandana of Nepal won the bronze.
Maldives and Bangladesh were placed in fourth and fifth position respectively.
India, represented by Akash Patel, Prashant Choudhary and Pankaj Kumar, also won the 8 km Boys- Under 20 category.
Sri Lanka, represented by KMJSD Madushan, NBAC Prabat Madubasana and GJ Anjolo stood 2nd while
Bangladesh bagged the third place via Hossain Ripon, Paul Pranto Kumar and Islam Md Ariful.
The Indian team also dominated the 6km (Girls-U20) category, with Ashakiran Barla, Drashtiben Pravibhai Chaudhri and Maya Kumari bagging the gold medal.
Sri Lanka, represented by WMK Nirmali Wickramasing, TV Hashini Lakshani and GWO Nilumika Fonseka bagged silver while Nepal’s Budha Ram Maya, Karki Bimala and Budha Samita took home the bronze.
Bangladesh, represented by Biswas Rinky, Rosna Samsun Nahar and Kormokar Nondine placed in 4th place.
SACCC: Individuals’ Results
Men’s 10 km
1st: Darshan Singh (India)
2nd: RM Spushpakumara (Sri Lanka)
3rd: Palmukesh Bahadur (Nepal)
Men’s 8 km Under-20
1st: Akash Patel (India)
2nd: KMJSD Madushan (Sri Lanka)
3rd: Karki Badal (Nepal)
Women’s 10 km
1st: Varsha Devi (India)
2nd: Pachhai Rajpura (Nepal)
3rd: MSP Madumali Perera (Sri Lanka)
Women’s 6 km Under-20
1st: Ashakiran Barla (India)
2nd: Bhuda Rammaya (Nepal)
3rd: Biswas Rinky (Bangladesh)
