- Maharashtra retained their Khelo India Games crown with a record medal tally of 256 medals.
- However, they won lesser gold medals - 78 - as against last year's 85.
- Haryana came second with 200 medals while Delhi finished with 122 medals.
Champions Maharashtra retained their title in the 2020 Khelo India Youth Games in style by bettering upon last year’s medal tally as the curtains fell on the 13-day national sporting extravaganza on Wednesday. The state finished at the top of the table with a record medal-haul of 256, including 78 gold, 77 silver medals and 101 bronze. Last year, it had clinched 228 medals (85 gold).
Haryana were the runner-ups with 200 medals 68 gold where Delhi came third on the podium with 122 medals (39 gold).
Maharashtra claims the Numero Uno position at the Khelo India Youth Games yet again! All hail the champion state!#KIYGClosingCeremony #KheloIndia #KIYG2020 #KheloIndia2020 #ChaloGuwahati@KirenRijiju @sarbanandsonwal @RijijuOffice @PMOIndia @CMOfficeAssam @IndiaSports pic.twitter.com/9tEsWNcU8g
— Khelo India (@kheloindia) January 22, 2020
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal handed Maharashtra the winner’s trophy in the presence of Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and Union Minister of State for Food Processing Rameshwar Teli in what proved to be a memorable closing ceremony.
Babita Sharma with her vocal skills has left everyone in awe!#KIYGClosingCeremony #KheloIndia #KIYG2020 #KheloIndia2020 #ChaloGuwahati@KirenRijiju @sarbanandsonwal @RijijuOffice @PMOIndia @CMOfficeAssam @IndiaSports @PIB_India @DGSAI @mygovassam @YASMinistry @ddsportschannel pic.twitter.com/w2Cc9kXiYh
— Khelo India (@kheloindia) January 22, 2020
An eventful final day
It was a hectic final day in the 2020 Khelo Games, with multiple events happening.
In the under 17 Wrestling final, Martina Devi of Manipur (+81kg, total 158kg) and Akhand Pratap Singh of Uttar Pradesh (+102kg, 217kg) were the winners.
The U-21 saw winners from four different states – Maharashtra’s Snehal Bhongale (+87kg, 157kg) and Karnataka’s SR Usha ( 87kg, 170kg), in girls while Abhishek of Uttar Pradesh, 109kg, 267kg and Tamil Nadu’s S. Rudramayan +109kg, 313kg.
Haryana were dominant in the boxing department, winning seven gold medals of the 18 on offer in U-21 age group.
Delhi’s Rohit Mor got the better of Bhavesh 3-2 in a what was a thrilling boy’s 52kg champion contest. Mor had won bronze last year.
Tamil Nadu’s S. Kalaivani overcame an eye issue to win by a comprehensive 5-0 win over local favourite Priyanka Borah in the girls’ 48kg event. This was her first appearance in the Games.
Another south Indian, Nishant Dev of Karnataka, beat a formidable opponent in Haryana’s Rajat to win the 64kg title 3-2.
Karnataka was handed another gold by Srihari Nataraj, who clinched gold in the U-21 50m backstroke (26.27) as well as the 100m freestyle (52.58).
As a result, she, along with Assam’s Shivangi Sarma, finished the Games as the most successful athlete by winning five gold and two silver.
In fact, 21 of Karnataka’s 32 gold came from swimming.
Elsewhere, Punjab beat Assam 2-0 for the boys’ U-21 football title. Haryana was victorious in the girls’ U-21 and U-17 football events, defeating Tamil Nadu (2-0) and Odisha (3-1) respectively in the final.
