Exclusion of Arunachal weightlifter from Commonwealth trials slammed

Arunachal Olympic Affiliation (AOA) and different organisations within the State have slammed the exclusion of weightlifter Sambo Lapung, a constant gold medal winner, from the trials for the Commonwealth Championships 2025.

GUWAHATI

The Arunachal Olympic Affiliation (AOA) and different organisations within the State have slammed the exclusion of weightlifter Sambo Lapung, a constant gold medal winner, from the trials for the Commonwealth Championships 2025.

Lapung appealed to the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) a couple of days in the past, requesting an opportunity to take part within the trials scheduled for June 13-14, however his plea was rejected.

In a letter to Indian Olympic Affiliation president P.T. Usha on June 5, AOA secretary basic Bamang Tago sought justice for Lapung, who was allegedly ignored to accommodate Harshit Sehrawat of Haryana.

A duplicate of the letter was despatched to Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports activities, Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, the Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports activities, and the Director Common of the Sports activities Authority of India.

Lapung hails from the East Kameng district, which falls underneath the Arunachal West parliamentary constituency represented by Mr Rijiju.

“Lapung, a three-time nationwide gold medallist and report holder, has persistently dominated the 96 kg class, securing gold on the Senior Nationwide Weightlifting Championships held in Chandigarh (2022), Itanagar (2023), and Himachal Pradesh (2024). His excellent performances embrace lifting 338 kg within the 2023 Nationals, outperforming his closest opponents, together with Harshit Sehrawat, who secured silver with a complete of 328 kg,” Mr Tago wrote.

“Regardless of this, the IWF launched a range checklist that excluded Lapung from the 94 kg class trials, whereas deciding on Sehrawat, sometimes a 102 kg lifter, primarily based on his silver medal efficiency on the Inter Railways Championship (335 kg). This choice, bypassing a reigning nationwide champion who has repeatedly outperformed the chosen athlete in direct competitors, has raised critical issues over transparency, meritocracy, and attainable regional bias,” he wrote.

Later, Mr Tago advised reporters that Sehrawat might have been favoured as a result of his father is a coach or due to the State he hails from.

“This matter will not be solely about one particular person. It displays a rising sample of underrepresentation and neglect of athletes from the northeastern area in national-level choices. Skills corresponding to Sambo Lapung, Kojum Taba, Jimjang Deru, and Soram Hitler Tagru have introduced pleasure to the nation. But, their efforts are too typically neglected throughout essential alternatives,” he mentioned.

The East Kameng Social Welfare and Cultural Organisation additionally criticised the IWF for ignoring Lapung and sought the intervention of Mr Rijiju.

The organisation mentioned Lapung’s exclusion not solely undermines his achievements but in addition wounds the feelings of the folks of Arunachal Pradesh and the area past. “This resolution reinforces a recurring sample of perceived stereotyping and discrimination in opposition to athletes from our area in mainland India,” its chairperson, Raya Flago, mentioned.