Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh’s ace weightlifter Sambo Lapung, who was previously excluded from the 2025 Commonwealth Championship trials, has now secured a spot in the selection trials for the 2025 IWF Senior World Weightlifting Championship.
Lapung will be joined by three other promising lifters from Arunachal Pradesh in the world championship trials: Kojum Taba, Markio Tario, and Balo Yalam.
The Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has stated that performances at the World Championships in Forde, Norway, will be crucial for qualification to the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Lapung’s inclusion in the World Championship trials comes after a “prompt intervention” by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, according to Bamang Tago, Secretary-General of the Arunachal Olympic Association (AOA). Tago expressed appreciation for the minister’s timely support in the matter.
Lapung’s earlier exclusion from the 2025 Commonwealth Championship trials had ignited significant controversy, with accusations of regional bias against the IWF.
The AOA had also sought an official explanation for the lifter’s exclusion.
The East Kameng Social Welfare and Cultural Organization (EKSWCO) had formally appealed to Union Minister Rijiju, labelling Lapung’s omission as a “serious lapse in fairness and transparency” by the federation.
The organization has extended heartfelt gratitude to Union Minister Rijiju for his intervention in addressing the exclusion of weightlifter Lapung from the initial selection trials.
The organization expressed hope that the revised trials would uphold the principles of fairness, merit, and equal opportunity for all deserving athletes.
Sambo Lapung boasts an impressive track record, having clinched gold medals at the Senior National Weightlifting Championships in Chandigarh (2022), Itanagar (2023), and Himachal Pradesh (2024).
The EKSWCO extended their best wishes to Sambo Lapung, expressing confidence that he will deliver an outstanding performance during the trials and effectively represent India on international stages.
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Besides, three other lifters from the state have been selected for the 2025 Commonwealth Youth, Junior and Senior Weightlifting Championship, Ahmedabad. The lifters are Pungni Tara, Tinku Golom, and Tayar Ronik.
However, Pungni Tara has been exempted from the selection trials to be held on June 29 and 30 at Patiala.
