Chhattisgarh athletes strike gold at 38th National Games in Uttarakhand

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh athletes are making a splash at the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand, currently underway until February 14, 2025. They have secured a total of four gold and three bronze medals so far, including a flurry of victories on Wednesday.
The medal haul on Wednesday saw Chhattisgarh excel in weightlifting, securing two gold medals. Vijay Kumar made history in the men's 55kg category by lifting a combined 248kg and equalling the national record, marking Chhattisgarh's first men's weightlifting gold in a decade.
Gyaneshwari Yadav continued her dominance in women's weightlifting, winning her second consecutive gold in the 49kg category with a total lift of 191kg. She also won gold at the 37th National Games in Goa.
The state also shone in Kalaripayattu, where Vivek Singh's impressive 8.9-foot high kick earned him a gold medal. Risha Nain and Anita secured bronze medals in their respective categories, adding to Misha Sandhu's gold win earlier in the Games.
The Chhattisgarh women's beach handball team continued their winning streak, defeating Assam in straight sets to grab their second consecutive bronze at the National Games.
Meanwhile, the men's badminton team stormed into the semifinals with a 5-0 sweep against Arunachal Pradesh and will now face Karnataka. Bhumi Gupta clocked a respectable 1:05.44 in the women's 100m butterfly final, finishing fifth.
These achievements have drawn praise from Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, also President of the Chhattisgarh Olympic Association (CGOA), MP Brijmohan Agrawal, Vice President of CGOA, MP Vijay Baghel, minister Kedar Kashyap, also Vice President of CGOA, and Dr Vikram Singh Sisodia of CGOA, all congratulating the athletes on their outstanding performances.