Nayanmoni Saikia brings CWG Gold to Assam; India Win Historic Gold Medal In Lawn Bowls

Our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI: Lawn Bowls player Nayanmoni Saikia became the cynosure of all eyes after the Indian women lawn bowls team won historic gold medal in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham today. She was the part of the Indian team which clinched maiden gold for the country in the Commonwealth Games.

It is the second occasion when an athlete from Assam won a medal from the Commonwealth Games.

Earlier in 2010 Commonwealth Games, held in Delhi, archer Jayanta Talukdar brought laurel for Assam by winning a bronze medal.

Nayanmoni, a very popular face in the State lawn bowls, played a crucial role in her team's victory in the final where India defeated South Africa 17-10 in the lawn bowls Women's Fours final. It was the third occasion when Nayanmoni turned up for India in the Commonwealth Games. She was part of the Indian squad in Glasgow and Gold Coast also.

Hailing from Tengabari, a remote village at Sarupathar in Golaghat district, Nayanmoni started her career as a weightlifter but leg injury forced her to quit the game. The 33- year-old athlete later joined lawn bowls and displayed some stunning performance in different national and international events. The athlete achieved two gold medals from the Asian Lawn Bowls Championship and also collected gold in 2011 and 2015 National Games.

She is married to a local businessman and has one daughter. She completed matriculation from Assam Board of Education and is currently employed at Assam Forest Department since 2011.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today congratulated Nayanmoni and her team for stunning performance in the Commonwealth Games. In a tweet Sarma said, "Congratulations to Assam's Nayanmoni Saikia and her team members who created history by winning the first ever medal for India in lawn bowls."

Also Read: Historic Win In Birmingham: Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Also Watch: Guwahati Police Seizes 20,000 Bottles of Anrex Cough Syrup, 2 Held