Rio lauds star weightlifter Kunjarani Devi's feat

Kohima, Mar 18 (UNI) Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio applauded weightlifter N Kunjarani Devi is gold medal winning performance in the ongoing Melbourne Commonwealth games.

Lauding the feat of the weightlifter from Manipur, Mr Rio in a press communique said, ''Kunjarani Devi's feat deserves recognition and praise from all sections, considering the fact that she has become a world beater despite her humble background. It is her hard work, determination and years of perserverance that has taken her to such heights''.

He hoped that other athletes of North East and throughout the country will derive motivation from Kunjarani's effort.

Kunjarani Devi became the first player from India to bag a medal in the Melbourne Commonwealth games 2006 by setting a new clean and jerk record in the 48 kg category.

Meanwhile, back in Manipur, people cannot stop raving about Kunjarani Devi's medal winning performance and recalled the local Hockey and Football team member's journey to becoming a star weightlifter.

Many organisations lauded the effort of Kunjarani, who had been bringing laurels to the nation since 1985.

Kunjarani was also the country's first player to win a medal in the 1990 Asian games held at Beijing.

She was appointed as a physical teacher in 1988 by the state government for her contribution to sports. She later joined the CRPF.

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