Maharashtra retain title

Chandigarh, January 22

The third edition of the Khelo India Youth Games came to an end today with a colourful ceremony. After 13 days of intense competition, Maharashtra were adjudged champions with 256 medals, including 78 gold.

Haryana finished second with 200 medals (68 gold, 60 silver, 72 bronze), while Delhi bagged 122 medals (39 gold, 36 silver, 47 bronze) to occupy third spot.

On the concluding day, swimmer Kareena Shankta won her second individual gold medal in the girls’ U-17 200m breaststroke event as Maharashtra scooped 46 medals from the pool, including 18 gold, that left Haryana in their wake.

Maharashtra’s other gold medals on Wednesday came from the tennis court where Snehal Mane and Mihita Yadav rallied from the first set deficit to beat Telangana’s top-seeds Sravya Chilkapudi and Sama Sathwika 3-6 6-3 10-7 and from women’s U-21 weightlifter Snehal Sukumar Bhongale.

The side thus won its second Khelo India Youth Games trophy in a row by grabbing 78 gold, 77 silver and 101 bronze medals.

Through the day, Maharashtra kept an eye on Haryana’s surge. Expectedly, their rivals enjoyed a productive day, winning 10 gold medals through both their girls’ football teams, boxers and the U-17 tennis competition.

But with four Haryana boxers losing in the finals, the fight for the top place was as good as over before the action shifted to the swimming pool.

It was there that Karnataka added four gold to those won by boxer Nishant Dev and rising tennis star Reshma Maruri to leapfrog Uttar Pradesh to the fourth place behind Maharashtra, Haryana and Delhi.

Srihari Nataraj won the 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle gold medals to take his tally in the Games to five gold medals and three silver.

With eight medals to show for his efforts, Nataraj shared the limelight with fellow-swimmer Shivangi Sarma of Assam, who won five gold and two silver to emerge the most successful girl in the Games.

The home state finished seventh with 76 medals, including 20 gold. West Bengal, Gujarat and Punjab completed the top-10. — TNS/ Agencies

Double delight

CLTA trainee Krishan Hooda won a silver medal in the U-17 tennis singles after he lost to his doubles partner Chirag Duhan 4-6 5-7 in the final. The Haryana duo then beat Daksha Aggarwal and Yashraj Dalvi of Maharashtra 2-6 6-1 10-7 in the doubles final to win the gold medal.

Younam bags silver

Chandigarh pugilist Younam Kamboj returned with a silver medal after he bowed to Lakshay Chahr of Rajasthan in the 81kg class in the boys’ U-21 competition.