Khelo India School Games: Haryana go past Maharashtra to emerge overall champions as Games draw to close

Riding on a rich final day haul of medals, Haryana pipped Maharashtra to the post to emerge team champions of the inaugural Khelo India School Games on Thursday. Starting the day with a gold medal less than Maharashtra, Haryana bagged 15 yellow metals — with their boxers winning 10 of them — on the final day. Haryana’s other gold medals comprised two in judo and one each from archery, football and hockey. Overall, Haryana picked 38 gold, 26 silver and 38 bronze medals, while Maharashtra finished the Games at 36 gold, 32 silver and 42 bronze medals. [caption id=“attachment_4342575” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Khelo India School Games ended on Thursday with Haryana crowned champions. Image Courtesy: Twitter[/caption] Maharashtra, however, had the consolation of winning the most medals — 110 — as compared to Haryana’s 102. Haryana and Maharashtra were the only states to go past the 100-mark in terms of total medals. Delhi, who were right behind Haryana and Maharashtra a day earlier, were left far behind at 25 gold, 29 silver and 40 bronze for a total of 94 medals. Karnataka (16 gold, 11 silver and 15 bronze), Manipur (13 gold, 13 silver and eight bronze), Uttar Pradesh (10 gold, 24 silver and 27 bronze) and Punjab (10 gold, 24 silver and 20 bronze) were the other states to win ten or more golds. In the last gold medal competition of the Games, played before an audience which included sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Manipur’s Maisnam Meiraba won the boys’ singles badminton gold with a 16-21, 21-14, 21-18 victory over Uttar Pradesh player Aakash Yadav. Earlier, left-handed Malvika Bansod won the girls’ singles title with a facile 21-12, 12-10 win against Aakarshi Kashyap of Maharashtra. The trophies for maximum participation were awarded to Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan in that order. Rathore presented Haryana with the glittering customised trophy for emerging team champions. Maharashtra finished second and Delhi third. Haryana were in full flow on the final day as their athletes won 15 gold, nine silver and 18 bronze for a day’s total of 42 medals, while Maharashtra had 12 gold, six silver and eight bronze and a total of 26 medals. Apart from the massive haul in boxing, Haryana also won the girls hockey gold, while Odisha emerged top among the boys. Haryana accounted for a football gold as their girls beat Manipur girls 5-4, while Mizoram beat Punjab in a close boys final. Haryana also figured among medals in judo with two of the four gold coming into their kitty besides four bronze. They also won one of the four gold medals in archery, indicating excellence in virtually all disciplines.