Overview

• Sambo Lapung, a three-time national champion in the 96 kg category, was dropped from India’s squad for the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship despite gold-medal wins in Chandigarh (2022), Itanagar (2023) and Himachal Pradesh (2024).
• The East Kameng Social Welfare and Cultural Organization submitted a representation to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on June 7, describing Lapung’s omission as a “serious lapse in fairness and transparency” by the Indian Weightlifting Federation.
• EKSWCO alleges the IWF’s decision reflects stereotyping and discrimination against Northeast athletes and risks alienating regional youth.
• Lapung’s superior 338 kg total at the 2023 Itanagar Nationals outperformed Haryana’s Harshit Sehrawat, yet selectors favoured Sehrawat’s silver at the Inter-India Railways Championships.
• Trials for the Commonwealth team are set for June 13–14, putting pressure on the IWF to adopt a transparent, performance-based selection policy.