BY Anukriti Srivastava
DEHRADUN, 6 Feb: The ninth day of the 38th National Games was filled with exciting performances as athletes vied for medals representing their states. Fans were treated to intense matches across various sports, witnessing both remarkable victories and hard-fought contests. Karnataka maintained its lead in the medal tally with a total of 54 medals, which included 28 gold, 11 silver, and 15 bronze. Services closely followed in second place with 46 medals.
One of the standout moments of the day was the women’s football final, where Haryana emerged victorious over Odisha in a nail-biting penalty shootout. After a scoreless draw in regular time, Haryana clinched the gold medal with a 4-2 win in penalties, leaving Odisha with the silver. West Bengal secured the bronze by defeating Delhi in the third-place playoff. The match showcased strong defensive tactics, as both teams struggled to score during regular play.
The archery events also featured some impressive performances. Juyel Sarkar from West Bengal took home the gold medal in the men’s individual recurve category, overcoming fierce competition from Indra Chand Swami (Services), who earned silver, and Tarundeep Rai (Sikkim), who finished with bronze. In the women’s recurve individual final, Deepika Kumari of Jharkhand showcased her skill and experience to win gold, defeating Anshika Kumari from Bihar. Both archers have now secured spots on the Indian team for the upcoming World Cup circuit, further solidifying their status on the national stage.
The men’s beach volleyball final was a standout event of the day, with Andhra Pradesh triumphing over Tamil Nadu in a straight-set match (25-23, 21-19) to take home the gold medal. In the bronze medal contest, Goa managed to outlast Telangana in a thrilling three-set showdown, leaving Telangana with yet another fourth-place finish. The women’s beach volleyball final featured Tamil Nadu overpowering Puducherry’s second team, winning decisively in straight sets (21-15, 21-11) to secure the gold. Puducherry’s first team also made it to the podium, earning bronze after defeating Telangana.
In the shooting arena, Haryana maintained its strong performance by winning gold in the 10m air pistol mixed team event. The pair of Suruchi and Parmod showcased their skills with a dominant 17-7 victory over Rajasthan’s Anjali Shekhawat and Umesh Choudhary. The bronze medal went to Maharashtra’s Rahi Sarnobat and Pranav Patil, who outperformed the Uttarakhand duo of Abhinav Deshwal and Yashasvi Joshi in the third-place match.
With many more events on the horizon, including taekwondo, boxing, hockey, rowing, and tennis, the National Games continue to deliver high-energy action and inspiring performances. Athletes from all over the country are striving to make their states proud, keeping the excitement alive as the tournament unfolds.
