Patna: Bihar delivered one of its strongest multi-sport performances to date at the second Khelo India Beach Games, with the men’s sepak takraw team crowned overall champions and the women’s side finishing third. The Games were held in Diu from January 5 to 10.
The men’s sepak takraw squad sealed the overall title after winning gold in the quad event and silver in the team event. The women’s team added to the medal tally with a silver in the team event, securing third place overall.
Ravindran Shankaran, director general of the Bihar State Sports Authority, said the results marked a significant moment for the state. “This success is a matter of great joy and pride for Bihar,” he said. “It will encourage more players from the state to pursue competitive sport.”
The Khelo India Beach Games featured eight disciplines, including six competitive sports—beach football, beach volleyball, beach kabaddi, beach sepak takraw, beach pencak silat and open water swimming—alongside exhibition events in beach mallakhamb and tug-of-war.
Bihar also celebrated a landmark medal in pencak silat, claiming bronze in the regu event. The trio of Kumari Riya, Geeta Kumari and Mitali defeated Tamil Nadu in the quarter-finals on January 7 before losing to Odisha in the semi-finals to secure third place. It was the state’s first medal in the discipline at the Beach Games.
Away from the beaches, Bihar made further history by finishing runners-up in kabaddi at the National School Games in Chhattisgarh. The team beat Himachal Pradesh 51–20 in the quarter-finals and edged Telangana 48–39 in the semi-finals to reach the final, where hosts Chhattisgarh prevailed. Haryana finished third, with Telangana fourth.
The combined results underline Bihar’s growing presence across a range of sports, with officials hopeful the momentum will translate into sustained success at national level.
