Diw, January 8 – Haryana’s women and Delhi’s men clinched gold medals in sepak takraw on Thursday at the Khelo India Beach Games 2026, held on the Ghoghla Beach in Diu. Their victories ended Bihar’s hopes of securing gold in the sport. Tamil Nadu athletes also showcased strong performances in beach volleyball.
Sepak Takraw Finals Highlight Haryana and Delhi Triumphs
In the women’s sepak takraw final, Haryana made a remarkable comeback after losing the first set to defeat Bihar 2-1 in a match lasting one hour and 15 minutes. Meanwhile, Delhi’s men’s team secured a straight 2-0 win over Bihar to claim the gold medal.
Beach Soccer Semifinals See Odisha and Gujarat Advance
In beach soccer, defending champions Odisha earned a spot in the women’s final by thrashing debutants Himachal Pradesh 7-0. Odisha’s Srijana Tamang, Satyabati Khadiya, and Khundongbam Ambalika each scored two goals. In the other semifinal, Gujarat defeated Arunachal Pradesh 6-3. Arunachal’s captain Gyani Ramching Mara scored consistently across all three quarters but lacked sufficient team support to turn the match in their favour.
Tamil Nadu Eyes Gold in Beach Volleyball Finals
Tamil Nadu’s men and women teams are set to contend for gold in beach volleyball. The women’s semifinal saw Deepika and Pavitra overcome their teammates Swati and Darshini 19-21, 21-12, 15-6. They will face Puducherry’s Revathi and Shweta in the gold medal match. In the men’s final, Tamil Nadu’s Bharat and Rajesh will compete against Goa’s Sawan and Gauns.
The Khelo India Beach Games 2026, organised by the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, are conducted under the supervision of the Sports Authority of India and National Sports Federations. This second edition features over 1,100 participants competing across eight sports: volleyball, soccer, sepak takraw, kabaddi, pencak silat, open water swimming, mallakhamb, and tug-of-war, with 32 gold medals at stake.
Participants expressed their satisfaction with the event. Puducherry’s Revathi described the experience as positive, while teammate Shweta found the competition challenging yet rewarding. Tamil Nadu’s Swati shared that although they secured bronze this year, they aim to win gold next year and praised the event’s excellent organisation. Bharat and Rajesh of Tamil Nadu reflected on their silver medal finish, appreciating the improved arrangements and the opportunities provided by the Khelo India initiative.
Thursday’s Key Results:
Beach Soccer (Semifinals):
Women: Gujarat defeated Arunachal Pradesh 6-3
Odisha defeated Himachal Pradesh 7-0
Beach Sepak Takraw:
Women – Gold: Haryana, Silver: Bihar, Bronze: Uttar Pradesh, Manipur
Men – Gold: Delhi, Silver: Bihar, Bronze: Manipur, Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu
Beach Volleyball (Semifinals):
Women: Deepika/Pavitra (Tamil Nadu) defeated Swati/Darshini (Tamil Nadu) 19-21, 21-12, 15-6
Revathi/Shweta (Puducherry) defeated Mansa/Mounika (Andhra Pradesh) 21-10, 21-18
Men: Sawan/Gauns (Goa) defeated Poonthamizan/Abhithan (Tamil Nadu) 21-18, 16-21, 15-12
Bharat/Rajesh (Tamil Nadu) defeated Ramkrishna Dawaskar/Nitin Sawant (Goa) 21-13, 19-21, 15-8
The Khelo India Beach Games continue to provide a platform for emerging athletes from across the country to compete and showcase their talents in a variety of beach sports.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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