Two Hockey Players from Manipur Shortlisted to Represent India in Tokyo Olympics

IMPHAL:

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. 

The Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri N.Biren Singh, went to social media to congratulate the athletes Nilakanta Sharma and Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam from his state who are on their way to bringing glory to our beloved nation. 

There are other athletes belonging to Northeast India who has been selected to represent India in their respective sports in the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo. 

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 Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

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. 

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. 

The Indian contingent has grown dramatically over the last three Olympic Games, with Northeastern competitors winning their places. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan has allegedly urged governments to decrease the size of their delegations to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

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