Haryana buoyed by a rich final day haul pipped Maharashtra at the post in the race for medals tally at the first Khelo India School Games on Thursday. Starting the day one gold medal behind Maharashtra, the Haryana boxers won 10 of 26 gold medals on offer, as their state accounted for 15 gold medals on the final day to race ahead.
Maisnam Meiraba won the final gold of the Games with a 16-21, 21-14, 21-18 victory. ~OCompeting for the last gold medal of the Games, Manipur lad Meiraba reasserted his claim as the best U-17 badminton player in the country when he staged a comeback to beat Uttar Pradesh lad Aakash Yadav in three games.
Earlier left-handed Malvika Bansod won the girls' singles title with a facile 21-12, 12-10 win against Aakarshi Kashyap of Maharashtra.
The Sports Minister, Rajyavardhan Rathore, presented the top state, Haryana, with the glittering customised trophy. Maharashtra finished second ahead of third placed Delhi. Haryana's 15 gold medals on the final day comprised 10 from boxing, two in judo and one each from archery, football and hockey. Overall Haryana picked 38 gold, 26 silver and 38 bronze, while Maharashtra finished the Games at 36 gold, 32 silver and 42 bronze.
Maharashtra, however, had the consolation of winning most medals, 110, as compared to Haryana's 102 medals. Haryana and Maharashtra were the only states to go past the 100-mark in terms of total medals.
Delhi, who were right behind Haryana and Maharashtra a day earlier, were left far behind at 25 gold, 29 silver and 40 bronze and a total of 94 medals.
Haryana were in full flow on the final day as their athletes won 15 gold, nine silver and 18 bronze for a day's total of 42 medals, while Maharashtra had 12 gold, six silver and eight bronze and a total of 26 medals.