Athletes from Northeast states are making it big at the ongoing Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) which is taking place at the scenic beach of Diu.
Manipur and Assam won titles in Sepak Takraw events, winning the women’s and men’s finals, respectively on Thursday.
Manipur won 2-1 against Nagaland in the women’s trio final, while Assam beat Delhi 2-1 in the men’s final.
“Both of us (Nagaland and we) played well in the final but we showcased in the match that we had the upper hand,” Manipur women’s trio player Jaina Devi Langoljam told SAI Media.
“They won the first set but we bagged the confidence to win the 2nd and 3rd set, and ultimately win the match.”
This is Manipur’s fourth medal in sepak takraw events (gold – women’s trio, silver – men’s and women’s team trio, bronze – men’s trio) at the Khelo India Beach Games, which is being staged for the first times. They will be looking to top the podium in the quad competition as well.
Ironically, the Manipur players, who live surrounded by hills in their homeland, have never trained in sand before. “When we first played the first day at the Khelo India Beach Game, it was difficult for us but now it became comfortable. We are now confident that we can play in the beach as well as on court,” added Jaina, who plays the ‘Tekong’ position in the team.
Meanwhile, Assam bagged a much-needed gold in sepak takraw. They had earlier also won bronze in the men’s Team Trio event.
“We don’t have proper beach or even indoor facilities in Assam and there is also intermittent rain all the time. Despite that, what we’ve achieved is just because of our hard work. We are proud of the kids and happy that I’m a coach of this team,” said Bidhumukhi Singha, coach of the men’s sepak takraw team, to SAI Media.
“ We came here at the Khelo India Beach Games, played in this surface for the first time and that too without shoes, which we normally don’t. I’m very proud that this gold came for Assam and the boys showcased their abilities,” he added
Also Read: Khelo India Beach Games 2025: Sports, Schedule, Venues; All You Need To Know
Khelo India Beach Games: The significance of Pencak Silat
Manipur and Nagaland fighters also showcased their martial arts prowess at the Khelo India Beach Games, sweeping pencak silat gold medals on Thursday.
Pencak silat is an Indonesian martial art form and northeastern states excelled in it. Manipur secured two gold medals through Dolly Leishangthem in the senior female under-45kg category and Thounaojam Rita Chanu in the senior female class A 45-50kg division. Nagaland matched this achievement with victories from Jon in the senior male class A 45-50kg final and Like Kibani in the senior female class C 55-60kg category.
Leishangthem clinched victory beating Chandigarh’s Reena 13-12 in a closely contested final, while Rita Chanu dominated her bout against Uttarakhand’s Gaytri Negi with an 18-9 victory.
Nagaland’s Jon got the better of Maharashtra’s Ramchandra Deepak Badak 22-15, and Kibani defeated Manipur’s Hijam Merina Devi 26-17 in an all-northeast final.
The strong performance from these states highlights the growing prominence of pencak silat in India’s northeastern region, which has traditionally been associated with various martial arts forms. Twenty-eight of the 46 gold medals available at the Khelo India Beach Games are being contested in pencak silat, making it the most significant discipline at the event.
