38th National Games: Sift Kaur Samra from Punjab clinches gold in women’s 50-meter rifle 3 positions

By  News On Air   Feb 03, 2025

The 38th National Games ongoing in Uttarakhand witnessed several thrilling matches on Monday. Athletes enthralled the audience with their strength and skill in weightlifting, shooting, boxing, yoga, and cycling events.

The final day of weightlifting competitions saw a flurry of records. Punjab’s Mehak Sharma clinched the gold medal in the women’s 87+ kg category, setting three new national records. She lifted a total of 247 kg, creating a new benchmark. In the men’s category, the Army’s Lovepreet Singh secured gold with a total lift of 367 kg, while Uttarakhand’s Vivek Pandey claimed the bronze medal.

The shooting competition also witnessed stellar performances. Punjab’s Sift Kaur Samra won the gold medal in the 50m three-position event with a score of 461.2 points. In the men’s 10m pistol event, Karnataka’s Jonathan Anthony bagged the gold medal, while the Army’s Ravinder Singh and Gurpreet Singh secured silver and bronze, respectively.

The fourth day of boxing in Pithoragarh featured intense matches, where Uttarakhand’s Himanshu Solanki secured a dominant victory over Haryana’s Abhimanyu Laura. Meanwhile, in the yoga competition held in Almora, West Bengal’s Ritu Mandal clinched the gold medal. In the cycling track event, Karnataka’s Keerthi Rangaswamy and SSCB’s Sahil showcased their excellence by winning gold medals.

In the National Games squash competition, Tamil Nadu’s Velavan Senthilkumar and Goa’s Akanksha Salunkhe emerged as gold medalists. In the women’s final, Akanksha defeated Maharashtra’s Anjali Semwal, while in the men’s final, Velavan triumphed over Maharashtra’s Rahul Baitha.