Panaji, Nov 8: Defending champions Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) made a late push for the top spot in the medal standings by winning a total of 10 gold medals on the penultimate day of the 37th National Games which also saw hosts Goa and Kerala jump several places in the standings by bagging 13 and eight gold medals respectively.
Services rode on a strong showing in the boxing ring where they won five gold, one silver apart from clinching two gold medals in Yachting, one each in men’s football, handball and kabaddi to take their gold medal tally to 65.
Maharashtra continue to lead the standings with 75 gold and should end Services reign at the top since 2007. Haryana are third in the standings with 56 gold. While there was no movement in the top-3, hosts Goa and Kerala jumped to ninth and fifth position respectively.
Hosts Goa saved their best for the last as the home contingent bagged 13 gold medals along with 13 silver and nine bronze medals to break into the top-10 the final standings. The host contingent won eight gold medals in Sqay Martial Arts at the Fatorda, three in boxing at Peddem and two in Yachting to take their gold medal tally to 25.
Kerala expectedly dominated the traditional martial art form of Kalarippayattu, as they won a total of 19 gold medal from the possible 22 to take their gold medals count to 36.
SSCB boxers reigned supreme winning five gold and one silver out of the seven weight categories in the men’s section while Haryana won three gold medals out of the six weight categories including World Champion Saweety Boora who clinched the gold in the 70-75 Middleweight category. Two-time world youth champion, Sakshi Chaudhury representing Goa won the Light Fly Weight category in dominant fashion. (Agencies)
