Shillong: The sporting fraternity in Meghalaya has been left in shock following the untimely death of young athlete Retina Hanse in a road accident in Ri-Bhoi district.
The 23-year-old athlete died after a collision involving a scooter and a truck at Sumer in the district.
According to reports, Hanse was travelling as a pillion rider on a scooter driven by her brother, Celestial Hanse, when the vehicle reportedly crashed into a truck.
The impact threw her off the scooter, and she suffered severe head injuries after striking a stone. She later succumbed to her injuries, while her brother escaped with minor injuries.
A resident of Khamar village in Ri-Bhoi district, Hanse had built a reputation as one of the state’s rising athletics talents.
In 2017 she became the first female athlete from Meghalaya to win a medal at the East Zone Junior Athletics Championship, securing gold in the Under-16 800 metres race held in Kolkata.
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She continued to shine in regional competitions. At the North East Games 2022 held in Shillong, she won a gold medal along with two bronze medals.
She added to her achievements at the North East Games 2024 in Nagaland, where she secured a silver and a bronze medal.
At the time of the accident, Hanse was undergoing training at the Sports Authority of India centre in Shillong and was preparing for upcoming competitions, including the National Games of India.
Her sudden passing has sparked an outpouring of grief among athletes, coaches and sports officials across Meghalaya, who remembered her as a dedicated sportsperson with immense potential.
