Imphal, Aug 10 (IANS) Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Monday felicitated Commonwealth Games silver medallist and weightlifter Chanambam Rishikanta Singh for his outstanding performance at the recently held 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland.
While felicitating the medallist, the Chief Minister extended his heartfelt congratulations to Rishikanta Singh and lauded his remarkable achievement, which, he said, had brought laurels to both Manipur and the nation and made the people of the state proud.
Lauding the sports movement in Manipur, Khemchand said the state government was considering enhancing the incentives provided to medallists who excel in international and national competitions. He said most of the sportspersons who bring medals for the state and the country come from lower-income families and, despite facing financial hardships and other challenges, continue to strive for excellence and bring laurels to Manipur and the nation.
“Perseverance and hard work are the prerequisites for becoming a successful sportsperson,” the Chief Minister said. He also highlighted Manipur’s long-standing tradition and culture of supporting sportspersons through local clubs and community organisations. Such a culture of community-based support, he said, was not prevalent in many other regions outside Manipur.
Khemchand said the achievements of sportspersons from the state reflected not only their individual talent and dedication but also the strong sporting culture and community support that has developed in Manipur over the years.
During his interaction with the Chief Minister, Chanambam Rishikanta Singh expressed his profound gratitude for the encouragement and motivational guidance extended to him by the state government and the Chief Minister.
Sharing his experience of winning the silver medal, Rishikanta said sportspersons, particularly those belonging to lower-income families, should not become disheartened if they were unable to afford the specialised diet often considered necessary for athletes. He said there was a need to dispel the perception that a sportsperson could not achieve success without being able to afford an expensive diet.
Taking his own achievement as an example, Rishikanta said determination, hard work, discipline and perseverance could help athletes overcome financial and other difficulties and achieve success at the highest level.
He expressed confidence that he would continue to work hard and bring greater success and more laurels to Manipur and the country in the future.
The Chief Minister also appreciated the dedication and commitment of Rishikanta’s family and the wider sporting community in supporting his journey.
Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh, who also holds the Youth Affairs and Sports (YAS) portfolio, MLAs Sapam Ranjan Singh, Th. Radheshyam, P. Brojen Singh, T. Robindro, Sheikh Noorul Hassan, Janghemlung Panmei, Th. Shyamkumar Singh and Th. Raghumani Singh, Secretary, YAS, N. Praveen, and the parents of Chanambam Rishikanta Singh were present at the felicitation ceremony.
Rishikanta clinched the silver medal in the men’s 71 kg weightlifting category with a combined lift of 264 kg. He finished behind Malaysia’s Bin Kasdan Mohamad Aniq, who secured the gold medal with a total lift of 273 kg.
--IANS
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