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Our Correspondent
Imphal, July 19(EMN): Solimla Jajo from Manipur won a silver medal for India while her colleague secured 4th position at the ongoing 54th Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship-2022 in Maldives.
Solimla Jajo (17), who won the silver medal in the 165 cm Senior Model Physique competition, is from Kasom Khullen village while her colleague Solan Jajo (17) from Leishi village secured 4th position in the 160 cm Senior Model Physique category.
Both the Kasom Khullen and Leishi villages, which were previously under Ukhrul district of Manipur, are now under Kamjong district of Manipur.
In all, seven individuals including Solimla and Solan represented team India at the 7-day 54th Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship-2022, which is scheduled to conclude on July 21.
Both the athletes underwent intensive training prior to the Maldives competition under the guidance of a well known bodybuilder and instructor Leishangthem Robert Meitei at the Royal gymnasium in the Ukhrul district headquarters, 85 km north of Imphal.
On getting the titles at an Asian championship, instructor Robert Meitei said, “I am indeed delighted and happy to be their coach, we have proven those Naysayers wrong by showing that even the hilly athletes also can excel in the international arena.”
“Usually Bodybuilding by women in a place like ours (a hill region) was a taboo in our society but now we have proved them wrong by telling that bodybuilding is a lifestyle or can be kept as a profession,” added the instructor of Royal Gymnasium, which has produced three international athletes from Moreh and three international athletes from Ukhrul.
According to the coach, the first tribal bodybuilder from Manipur who represented India in the Junior Mr Asia 2019 was also a product from Royal Gymnasium Ukhrul, which was given recognition by All Manipur Body Building Association in 2018.
In a brief chat recently, Solimla Jajo, the Miss Manipur title holder in her weight category in 2019, said, "I feel joy and happiness. I think things are possible if you are ready for it." On the other hand Solan is aiming to become a fitness ambassador in the future. Both the athletes are arriving here on July 23.