Haldwani, Feb 14: The closing ceremony of the 38th National Games commenced here on Friday, featuring home minister Amit Shah as the guest of honour. He affirmed that India is on an encouraging path to successfully host the Olympics in 2036.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha officially declared the Games closed before transferring the flag to Conrad Sangma, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, who will host the next edition of the Games.
“I can confidently state today that India has a promising future in sports. We are poised to host the Olympics in 2036,” Shah expressed during his address, referring to India’s bid to host the Olympics, which is still in its preliminary phases.
Accompanying Shah was sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who also praised the athletes for their outstanding performances over the past two weeks.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami warmly welcomed Shah with a commemorative memento, a shawl, and a bouquet of flowers.
“’Dev Bhoomi’ is evolving into ‘Khel Bhoomi,’ not only due to the National Games but also because of the athletes’ achievements and Dhami ji’s tireless efforts to ensure a successful event,” Shah remarked at the Indira Gandhi International Sports Complex here.
He noted, “Thanks to their dedication, Uttarakhand has advanced from 21st place in the previous Games to 7th position overall. I commend all the athletes who contributed to establishing ‘Dev Bhoomi’ as ‘Khel Bhoomi.’ My best wishes are with them.” Shah further mentioned, “I have noticed that some of the records set by athletes during these Games are on par with international competitions.
In addition to Shah, Mandaviya, and Dhami, various dignitaries attended the ceremony, including Meghalaya’s next host CM Kongkal Sangma, Uttarakhand’s Sports Minister Rekha Arya, IOA President PT Usha, boxing icon MC Mary Kom, and Olympic medallist shooter Gagan Narang, among others.
“Uttarakhand has demonstrated to the nation that it is not just Devbhoomi but also Khelbhoomi. The state made sure that all athletes had a smooth experience during the Games. This marks the beginning of India emerging as a sports hub,” Mandaviya expressed in his address. The venue, with a capacity of 25,000, was fully packed for the ceremony.
“We are on the brink of India breaking into the top 10 of Olympic champions by 2036. The nation now possesses a robust sports ecosystem and is progressing in every area, including sports,” Mandaviya highlighted.
Usha conveyed a similar sentiment during her speech.
“This journey is just beginning; it marks the start of a new era for Indian sports,” Usha stated.
The ceremony will showcase a ‘Games Recap’, spotlighting the highlights of the sporting extravaganza that kicked off on January 28 across seven venues, with Dehradun serving as the main hub.
Ultimately, the traditional powerhouse, Services Sports Control Board (SSCB), led the medal tally for the fifth time in six games, achieving a total of 121 medals (68 gold, 26 silver, 27 bronze).
Maharashtra secured more total medals than SSCB with 198 (54 gold, 71 silver, 73 bronze), but the lower gold count placed them second.
Similarly, Haryana surpassed SSCB with 153 medals (48 gold, 47 silver, 58 bronze), yet had to settle for a third-place finish.
The hosts, Uttarakhand, finished commendably in seventh place with a total of 103 medals, which included 24 gold, 35 silver, and 44 bronze. (Agencies)
