Jharkhand started bagging gold medal in wrestling at the ongoing 35th National Games, Kerala on Monday. The medal were achieved by Hardeep in 98 kg Greco Roman on Monday. He defeated Mahesh Mohan of Maharashtra. Meanwhile, Gopal Yadav scored a bronze medal in 84 kg Free Style. On Sunday, Yashpal had bagged a bronze for 86 kg Greco Roman. It was the first medal for the Jharkhand contingent in the games.
State Wrestling Association General Secretary Bholanath Singh from Indoor Stadium Mundayad situated at Kannur informed that Jharkhand was in the fifth rank with 17 points. Delhi also holds the same position with the same points. Punjab and Uttar Pradesh are leading with 28 points individually. Gujarat is on the second position with 26 points followed by Haryana and Kerala in the third and fourth positions with 25 and 24 points.
However, the women hockey players lost to Punjab by 2-1 goal today. The performance of boys’ hockey players seems better as they claimed a thumping victory over Kerala by 10-1 goal on Sunday. Jharkhand Olympic Association (JOA) Acting Secretary Shivendra Dubey expressed his happiness over the achievement. He said, “We are hopeful to get more medals in wrestling, hockey, women football, archery, shooting and athletics. The qualifying rounds of archery are yet to become. Tara Shahdeo and Anjali Kumari practiced today morning.”
“In squash, our players have entered to the second round,” added Dubey. Sources mentioned the performance of the state players is appreciable as they failed to attend the final camp prior to the games due to the conflict between the sports department and JOA. Notably, renowned archers Deepika Kumari and Rimil are competing on behalf of the state team. In lawn Bowls, last Commonwealth Games participants like lovely Choubey, Rupa Rani Tirkey, Chandan Kumar, Dinesh Kumar and Farzana Khan are representing the State.
Meanwhile, the state Wushu contingent departed for Kerala from Jharkhand on Tuesday. The team includes Jyoti Kumari who hadbagged a bronze medal at 7th Asian Junior Wushu championship at Manila in 2013. The players of Fencing, Triathlon, Athletics, Canoeing and Kayaking will depart on February 4. Taekwondo players are scheduled to leave on February 5.
Overall 239 players for 18 events are representing the state. The list of events covers Aquatics, Athletics, Gymnastics, Triathlon, Taekwondo, Wushu, Squash, Shooting, Beach Handball, Hockey, Canoeing and Kayaking, Archery, Fencing, lawn Bowls, Yachting, Football (Women), Boxing and Wrestling. 35thNational Games will be concluding at Kerala on February 14. Significantly, in the 34th National Games organized at Jharkhand, the state contingent maintained the fifth rank for overall champion.