Shillong, July 10: They learned to swim in a village river with little more than natural ability and determination. Today, they are among Meghalaya’s newest swimming stars.
Four young swimmers from Garo Hills – Rakrak A. Sangma, Amran B. Marak, Chachang B. Marak and Salres G. Sangma – emerged among the standout performers at the 19th Meghalaya State Swimming Championship 2026, winning a combined 9 medals and proving that talent can flourish even in the most unlikely places.
The championship, organised by the Meghalaya Swimming Association (MSA), was held at the Crinoline Swimming Pool in Shillong on July 3 & 4. A total of 133 swimmers from across the state competed in various age-group events, with East Khasi Hills finishing as overall champions and South West Khasi Hills taking the runners-up trophy.
The West Garo Hills Swimming Association (WGHSA) concluded the two-day championship in Shillong with a haul of one gold, three silver and five bronze medals, recording what officials described as the district’s best-ever performance at the Meghalaya State Swimming Championship. It is also believed to be the first time a contingent from Garo Hills has returned with as many as nine medals from the state meet.
Rakrak led the Garo Hills contingent with gold in the 4x50m Individual Medley Relay (Junior), silvers in the 50m and 100m Breaststroke (Junior), bronze in the 50m Butterfly (Junior), and added two more bronze medals in the 4x50m Medley Relay (Open) and 4x50m Freestyle Relay (Junior).
Amran B. Marak claimed bronze medals in the 400m Freestyle (Open) and the 4x50m Freestyle Relay.
Chachang B. Marak secured a silver medal in the 50m Breaststroke (Open) and a bronze in the 4x50m Freestyle Relay, while Salres G. Sangma won bronze medals in the 4x50m Freestyle Relay (Open) and the 4x50m Freestyle Relay (Junior).
According to WGHSA officials, all four first learned to swim in a nearby river in their village. During a talent identification trial organised by their association, coaches recognised their natural ability and decided to nurture their potential.
The late coach Chesrang A. Sangma played a crucial role in Rakrak’s development by introducing him to competitive swimming techniques. Rakrak competed in last year’s Meghalaya State Swimming Championship, where he won a silver and a bronze medal, performances that earned him selection to the Meghalaya state team. Last month, he also trained under the state coach to further improve his skills.
The other three swimmers are relatively new to competitive swimming but have shown rapid progress. During their preparation, the association also ensured the athletes received proper nutrition to support their development.
For the association, the success is particularly significant as its athletes emerged on top despite training without a professional coach, underscoring the depth of talent in Garo Hills.
The championship itself reflected the growing popularity of swimming in Meghalaya, with participation increasing each year. Best Swimmer honours went to Meiaipynsan L. Tron in the men’s category and Verem Gedaliah Nongsiej in the women’s category, while Keanan Chugim Nongrum Momin and Anisa Rakshit Phanbuh were named the Most Promising Swimmers among the boys and girls respectively.
