The Khelo India Beach Games, currently being held in Daman and Diu, have emerged as a significant platform for sportspersons to showcase their talent and aspire to reach the international stage.
Odisha’s Umabati Patra, who won the gold medal in Pencak Silat at the second edition of the Khelo India Beach Games, told IANS on Thursday that the Games provided a huge opportunity and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for initiating the programme.
“It feels amazing to participate in these Games, and I am very happy to have won the gold medal. I would like to give credit to the Sports Department of Odisha for helping us train well for this competition. They took care of our diet, and all the facilities were excellent,” Patra said.
“We worked very hard in the lead-up to the Games, and that effort paid off. Credit for this gold also goes to my coach, Prem Singh Thapa, who is the secretary of our state association. They made all the arrangements for our training. Khelo India is a huge platform, and I am very grateful to Prime Minister Modi for starting it,” she added.
Shreya, who won a bronze medal at the Khelo India Beach Games, echoed similar sentiments. “It feels amazing to win a bronze medal on such a big platform. Khelo India feels almost like an international event, and I am very grateful for this opportunity,” she said.
The Khelo India Beach Games 2026, organised by the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, are being held under the technical supervision of the Sports Authority of India and national sports federations.
The second edition of the Games has drawn over 1,100 participants competing in eight sports — volleyball, soccer, sepaktakraw, kabaddi, pencak silat, open water swimming, mallakhamb and tug-of-war. The first six are medal sports, with 32 gold medals on offer.
IANS
