Pune: Host Maharashtra duly walked away with the overall trophy for the massive haul of 85 gold, 62 silver and 81 bronze, totaling an impressive 228 medals ringing in celebrations with a shower of confetti, victory chants, deafening music and finally selfie moments as the curtains fell on Khelo India Youth Games on Sunday.
Maharashtra athletes and team officials received the trophy from Union Human Resources Minister Prakash Javadekar and Maharashtra Minister of Sports, Vinod Tawde, in front of the packed galleries at the crisp closing ceremony.
The overwhelming success of these games has now made the government more determined to bring in a compulsory one-hour daily period for sports in every school across the country, Javadekar said while extoling the performances of the athletes at the Games.
Maharashtra finished ahead of Khelo India School Games champions, Haryana, who were second with 62 gold, 56 silver and 60 bronze for a total of 178 meals, while Delhi were third with 48 gold, 37 silver and 51 bronze for a total of 136 medals.
The three top States received their respective trophies, Delhi as second runners-up, Harayana as runners-up and finally, Maharashtra as champions. Action soon shifted off the stage to a special gallery that had a large number of the Maharashtra team waiting to receive the trophy, which reached them amidst blasts of confetti and streamers.
