By A Correspondent
Gaya: The 34th National Sub Junior Boys and Girls Kabaddi Championship was inaugurated on the evening of 27th March at GD Goenka Public School, Rasulpur, Gaya. Dr Prem Kumar, Minister of the Cooperative Department, Government of Bihar, formally commenced the event by lighting the ceremonial lamp, performing Bhoomi Pujan, and meeting the participating players.
Bihar made a strong start in both categories of the championship. In the boys’ category, Bihar triumphed over Jammu and Kashmir with an impressive score of 87-28, while in the girls’ category, they secured a decisive victory against Vidarbha, winning 56-24.
During the inauguration, Dr Kumar remarked, “The Bihar State Kabaddi Association has enhanced our state’s prestige by hosting this national championship in Gaya.” He added, “The government has introduced a scheme to reward medal winners with jobs. Sports contribute to physical, mental, and intellectual development.”
Jitendra Thakur, General Secretary of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, praised Bihar’s efforts, stating, “Bihar has carved a new identity in the nation by organising multiple prestigious events. I commend the Bihar State Kabaddi Association for this achievement.”
Kumar Vijay Singh, Chairman of the Bihar State Kabaddi Association, highlighted Bihar’s accomplishments in kabaddi, noting, “Bihar has set numerous records in the sport, including hosting major national competitions and the World Cup.”
The event was graced by several distinguished personalities, including:
- GD Goenka School Director, Ravindra Singh Rathore
- Dronacharya Awardee Balwan Singh
- Arjuna Awardees Pawan Shehrawat, Mamta Pujari, and Manjeet Chillar
- Asian Games gold medallist Sachin Tanwar
- Former international players Jai Shri Swan, Rohit Kumar, and Pooja Sharma
- Indian team coach Srinivas Reddy
- A special honour was bestowed upon Rajiv Kumar Singh, a gold medallist from the Doha Asian Games.
Anand Shankar Tiwari, Secretary of the Organising Committee, delivered the vote of thanks, while Arun Kumar, Convener of the Madhepura District Kabaddi Association, conducted the proceedings. The programme was further enlivened by performances of the welcome song and Bihar Gaurav song by students of GD Goenka Public School.
Senior Deputy Collector and District Sports Officer of Gaya, Rahul Kumar, along with the President of the Gaya District Olympic Association, Secretary Organising Committee Convenor Jitendra Kumar, and the Principal of GD Goenka Public School, were also present.
Match Results:
Boys’ Category:
- Bihar def. Jammu & Kashmir 87-28
- Haryana def. Tripura 78-28
- SAI def. Tamil Nadu 63-42
- Andhra Pradesh def. Odisha 59-21
- Maharashtra def. Uttaranchal 64-28
- Chhattisgarh def. Vidarbha 65-7
- Goa def. Bengal 47-11
- Uttar Pradesh def. Assam 56-29
- Rajasthan def. Manipur 41-34
- Telangana def. Kerala 47-42
- Delhi def. Tripura 29-9
Girls’ Category:
- Bihar def. Vidarbha 56-24
- Rajasthan def. Manipur 33-5
- Goa def. Madhya Pradesh 43-35
- Uttaranchal def. Tripura 74-12
- Punjab def. Karnataka 40-38
- Chhattisgarh def. Odisha 60-28
- Telangana def. Bengal 44-21
- Uttar Pradesh def. Jammu & Kashmir 67-11
- SAI def. Andhra Pradesh 40-18
- Tamil Nadu def. Kerala 45-13
- Himachal Pradesh def. Gujarat 46-20
