Border Security Force (BSF) was declared as the winner of All India Police Wrestling Cluster Championship 2013 (AIPWCC) on Friday with 15 gold medals. Haryana Police stood on the second position with 14 gold medals and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was in the third position with 12 gold medals.
Among the five events here including Judo, Gymnastics, Wrestling, Weightlifting and Boxing, the winning team was declared as topper in the men’s category of gymnastics, judo, boxing and weightlifting. Also, it was the runner up of wrestling freestyle in men’s cadre.
Though maximum medals comprising gold, silver and bronze medals were won by CRPF sports individuals but BSF was declared the winner since the game is judged on the basis of maximum gold medal achievers. Among the 32 participating forces involving state police and para-military forces Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, Gujarat, West Bengal, Odisha, Railway Police Force and Pondicherry were unable to get a single medal.
Jharkhand, the hosting team for such a big police games meet for the first time ever managed itself in the ninth position in this tally with two gold, four silver and five bronze medals. Gold medals for this home team were brought by Manoj Kumar Thapa in floor exercise of men gymnastics and Aruna Mishra in women category of 69 kgs boxing.
The five day sports tournament concluded on Friday evening. Police Sports Control Board Chairperson Surendra Singh informed that the police games is conducted since 1951 wherein various sporting police members have been fortunate to earn Padma Shri, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Padma Vibhusan and Arjuna awards.
Arjuna awardees Yogeshwar Dutt and Gitika Jakhar bagged gold medals in men and women wrestling events here on behalf of Haryana Police. Uttrakhand Police’s Rustam Sharang made a new national record here with 152 kg in men’s weightlifting. CRPF’s Mayank Srivastava was awarded as the best gymnastic with a pure silver memento.
As about 1600 players contested the games of which 250 were women. This year was state police’s second achievement as a national sports meet host. The closing ceremony began with the march past of all the participating teams, and after covering the speeches of the dignitaries like Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar, Additional DGP KN Choubey, Sports Minister Geetashree Oraon, Minister Haji Hussain, State Assembly Speaker SS Bhokta and Chief Minister Hemant Soren along with felicitation of winners.
The function ended with cultural programmes presented by large number of city school children and tribal artists. The Speaker quoted this sports programme as ‘Mini India’ while CM stressed on his decision to recruit local sportspersons from rural and urban areas in state government departments including State Police.