The athletes from the northeast have been shortlisted to represent India in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics in their respective sporting arenas are Nilakanta Sharma, Sushila Chanu and Lalremsiami (Hockey), MC Mary Kom and Lovlina Borgohain (Boxing), Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting), Sushila Likmabam (Judo), and Tarundeep Rai (Archery).
1. Nilakanta Sharma, Sushila Chanu and Lalremsiami – Hockey Two hockey players from the state of Manipur have been shortlisted in the Men’s and Women’s Indian Hockey teams respectively who will represent the country in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
Hockey India revealed the men’s hockey squad for the Tokyo Olympics on Friday, June 18. Nilakanta Sharma, a midfielder from Imphal East district in Manipur, will also be on the team, representing the country.
Similarly, Hockey India selected a 16-member Indian women’s hockey squad for the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday, June 17, with Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, a veteran midfielder from Manipur, representing the country.
Lalremsiami, a forward from Mizoram has also been selected in the 16-member Indian women’s hockey squad for the Tokyo Olympics. She was a member of the squad that led India to a silver medal in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in B uenos Aires, Argentina.
2. Saikhom Mirabai Chanu – Weightlifting The 26-year-old Weightlifting star belongs to the Imphal East region of Manipur and is widely expected to earn a medal this year. She earned a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2018, a Glasgow silver medal in 2014, and a World Championship gold medal in 2017. All of these were in the 48 kg weight class in which she competes. She has received the Padma Shri and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for her achievements in national and international weightlifting competitions.
3. Sushila Likmabam – Judo She participates in the 48kg weight class and previously won silver at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She qualified for the Olympics on a temporary basis a few weeks ago after securing a continental quota spot. This was based on her ranking in the Asian Judoka list, with Asian having ten spots and Sushila ranking seventh.
4. MC Mary Kom and Lovlina Borgohain – Boxing Mary Kom, national icon and legendary boxer from Manipur will represent India under the 51-kg category of Women’s Boxing in Tokyo.
Lovlina Borgohain of Assam, a two-time World Championships bronze medalist, will represent India in the 69-kg weight class in the Olympics in Tokyo.
5. Tarundeep Rai – Archery Tarundeep Rai, an archer from Namchi in Sikkim, has qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. The archer has previously represented his nation in two Olympic Games, in Athens in 2004 and in London in 2012. However, owing to a lingering shoulder ailment, he was unable to compete in Beijing in 2008. He also happens to be the cousin of footballing great Baichung Bhutia.
The Indian contingent has grown dramatically over the last three Olympic Games, with Northeastern competitors winning their places.