Khelo India Youth Games 2021: Haryana beat Maharashtra to regain crown

BY A STAFF REPORTER: Hosts Haryana won the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2021 title with 52 gold medals, of which, 10 came in boxing on the final day on Monday. The late surge helped Haryana leapfrog the 2020 champions Maharashtra on the KIYG medals table. Haryana also won 39 silver and 46 bronze medals, taking their overall medal tally to 137 medals - the highest cumulative haul by any state. Maharashtra, meanwhile, managed 45 gold, 40 silver and 40 bronze medals to come second with 125 medals. Karnataka, with 22 gold, 17 silver and 28 bronze, finished third with 67 medals. The Khelo India Youth Games 2021 started on June 4 across multiple venues with Haryana’s Panchkula hosting the bulk of the events. The Games, which are a part of the Indian government’s Khelo India initiative, concluded on June 13. Earlier, Haryana won 16 gold medals in wrestling which proved vital in the title race. Haryana’s swimmers and weightlifters also contributed with four gold medals each. Maharashtra’s wins, meanwhile, also came in different categories. The state bagged eight gold medals in track and field while swimmers, gymnasts and yogasana players clinched six each. Wrestlers and lifters added three each to Maharashtra’s tally. The race for the title extended until the very last day with both Maharashtra and Haryana tied with 42 gold medals each going into the final day. In fact, it was Maharashtra who entered the final day as the table toppers, having won more silver medals than Haryana. The boxers proved to be the difference makers on the final day.