Raipur, March 28: The wait for a gold medal for the host state of Chhattisgarh ended on the fourth day of the Khelo India Tribal Games. Weightlifter Nikita clinched the first gold medal for her state on Saturday. Meanwhile, Odisha’s female swimmers showcased their dominance by winning all three gold medals in swimming events.
Nikita excelled in the women’s 77 kg weightlifting category, easily securing the gold medal in the final event of the day. The 20-year-old lifted a total of 160 kg (70 kg in snatch and 90 kg in clean and jerk), surpassing the second-place finisher from Odisha by 34 kg. Assam’s Joyshree Patir claimed the bronze medal with a total lift of 118 kg.
In swimming, Odisha’s Ritika Minj won gold in the 100-meter freestyle, Anjali Munda in the 50-meter backstroke, and the 4×100 medley relay team also secured gold. Anjali stood out with a total of five gold medals, four of which were from individual events.
Nikita expressed her joy to SAI Media, stating, “This is a special moment for me as it is my first gold medal in Khelo India. I have been training all year for these games, and when I arrived at the weightlifting arena, I was confident that I would win this gold medal.”
In the medal tally, Karnataka leads with 15 gold, six silver, and three bronze medals, while Odisha follows with seven gold, three silver, and ten bronze medals. Arunachal Pradesh made significant strides on Saturday, winning both gold medals in men’s weightlifting, moving them closer to third place. Currently, Assam holds third place with four gold, seven silver, and three bronze medals. The host state, Chhattisgarh, is in seventh place with eight medals (one gold, four silver, and three bronze).
In the women’s 69 kg category, Dimpi Sonowal lifted a total of 155 kg, securing first place for Assam, while Pallavi Payeng won silver with a total lift of 131 kg. Rubha Tadu (men’s 88 kg) and Lalu Taku (men’s 94 kg) strengthened Arunachal Pradesh’s chances of a top-three finish, both winning gold medals with ease. Tadu lifted a total of 274 kg for gold, while Taku lifted 250 kg in his category.
In the swimming competition, siblings Nibir Krow and Vayolina Krow from Assam won a gold and a bronze medal, respectively, on the final day at the international pool. Nibir achieved the top spot in the 50-meter backstroke with a time of 31.31 seconds, pushing Karnataka’s Dhanish N to second place with a time of 31.39 seconds.
Earlier, Vayolina secured a bronze medal in the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 1:16.62 seconds, while Odisha’s Ritika Minj (1:12.93 seconds) and Krishna Priya Nayak (1:15.77 seconds) took home gold and silver medals.
Karnataka concluded the swimming competition with 15 gold, five silver, and three bronze medals. Manikant L from Karnataka topped the table with eight gold and one silver medal, while Dhanish M finished with five gold and one silver. In the women’s category, Karnataka’s Meghanjali won four gold and two bronze medals.
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. 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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