Chandigarh University Khelo India champ, 2nd time in row

A last phase haul of medals in canoe and kayaking led Chandigarh University, Gharuan, to win the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) for the second time in a row.

The meet, which concluded in Rajasthan today, consequently made the university eligible to retain the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy, to become the first private university to win the title twice in a row.

The university finished their campaign with a total of 67 medals, including 42 gold, 14 silver and 11 bronze. Lovely Professional University (LPU) ended their KIUG campaign as the runner-up with 32 golds, 25 silver and 22 bronze medals. Chitkara University finished at 11th position.

Chandigarh University won 23 of the 30 gold medals in Canoe and Kayaking, a sports discipline which made its debut at the KIUG, six in swimming and five in athletics, two in wrestling and one each in weightlifting, shooting, cycling, archery, table tennis and kabaddi.

In the women’s boxing, Ritika of Chitkara University bagged bronze medal in the 50kg event, in the men’s 75-80kg, Akshay Kumar of Panjab University won gold medal.

The women’s kabaddi team of Chandigarh University bagged the title, while in the men’s event, Punjabi University, Patiala bagged the silver meda and Panjab University finished third. In women’s volleyball, Chandigarh University won the bronze medal.