Host Maharashtra dominate Khelo India Youth Games as its medal haul goes past 150

The Khelo India Youth Games, underway in Pune, is making all the right noises with host Maharashtra emerging the winner almost in all disciplines. According to a media release, Maharashtra now have 56 golds along with 44 silver and 56 bronze medals for a whopping total of 156 medals. With four gold each from swimming and gymnastics, and more gold from athletics, badminton and judo, they have raced past the 50-mark for gold medals, the media release added. If there was one sport where Maharashtra’s domination was halted then it was Judo, where Delhi clinched three more gold medals to finish with the tally of a complete dozen. Delhi's judokas and swimmers and Haryana's wrestlers chased Maharashtra hard in the medals race as the battle for overall supremacy gathered momentum in the Khelo India Youth Games on Saturday.                

Despite picking up nine gold medals, which included three each from judo and swimming, Delhi were still lagging n the race for overall supremacy. Delhi now have 45 gold, 27 silver and 38 bronze medals, while Haryana have 33 gold, 34 silver and 36 bronze medals.

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Among the individual stars of the day, 10-year-old Abhinav Shaw stood out as he teamed up with Mehuli Ghosh to take the gold in the 10m Air Rifle mixed team event. In the process, Shaw became the youngest gold medallist at these Games.

Devanshi, daughter of former pistol legend Jaspal Rana, stole the limelight as she won the Under-21 junior women’s 25m pistol gold and held off a challenge by Haryana’s resurgent Anjali Choudhary.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu’s Balakumar Nithin and Karnataka’s AT Daneshwari emerged as the country’s top sprinters as both of them completed the 100m-200m double.

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Yuga Birnale led Maharashtra’s charge with three medals, including two gold, as the hosts maintained their domination in the pool over Karnataka and Delhi.

Of the 12 gold at stake on Sunday, Maharashtra picked up four while Delhi and Karnataka took three each. Delhi topped in both the Under-17 and Under-21 sections with six gold in each category.