The Khelo India Youth Games concluded at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi in Pune with the host Maharashtra leading the medals table by winning a mammoth 85 gold, 62 silver and 81 bronze for a total of 228 medals in the Games.
Key Points:
i. With a total of 228 medals, hosts Maharashtra also walked away with the Overall Trophy at the Khelo India Youth Games.
ii. Union Minister for Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar and Maharashtra Sports Minister Vinod Tawde presented the winning trophy at the closing ceremony in Pune.
iii.Haryana, stood at second place with 62 gold, 56 silver and 60 bronze for a total of 178 medals.
iv. Delhi stood third with 48 gold, 37silverand 51 bronze, a tally of 136 medals.
v. Individually, Karnataka swimmer Srihari Nataraj became the most medalswinner by competing in seven events in the U-21 category and winning all of them. The 16-year-old’s timing of 26.16 secs in 50m backstroke was a senior national record.
vi. In theclosingceremony Maharashtra Government announced that there would be one hour of sports every day for students in all schools in the State of Maharashtra.
vii. The theme of the Games revolved around ‘kheloge toh khiloge’ (if you play, you will prosper).
viii. About 10,000 participants, including about 6,000 athletes, from across the country participated in this year’s Khelo India Youth Games.