Khelo India Youth Games: Kerala clinches U-21 volleyball title

In the final, Kerala overcame a relatively sluggish start to outsmart Tamil Nadu 21-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-20.

The Kerala U-21 team (left) celebrate after winning the men's U-21 volleyball final. Photo: Kamesh Srinivasan

Kerala overcame a relatively sluggish start to outsmart Tamil Nadu 21-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-20 in the Khelo India Youth Games men’s U-21 volleyball final held at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi on Sunday. With the fans cheering lustily throughout the contest, Kerala found the energy to play an attacking game, even as Tamil Nadu tried to regain the winning touch.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu women defeated Kerala in a tough contest after losing the first two games. The scoreline: 23-25, 11-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-9.

Shah defeats Ghosh

In table tennis, which was the last category to finish, Manush Shah of Gujarat overcame a strong challenge from Anirban Ghosh of Bengal 11-8, 7-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4 for the men’s U-21 title.

Earlier, Surabhi Patwar had won a dramatic climax 16-14 in the seventh and last game for the women’s U-21 crown, in an all-Bengal contest.

Win for Anita Kumari

In archery, held at the Army Sports Institute, Anita Kumari of Jharkhand recorded a one-point victory over Muskan Kirar of Madhya Pradesh, an Asian Games silver medallist, in the U-21 women’s compound final.

In women’s U-21 hockey final at the National Defence Academy, Haryana beat Jharkhand 3-0 for the gold, thanks to goals from Mahima Chowdhary, Amandeep Kaur and Amrinder Kaur.

• Archery
• Recurve
• Men U-21: Sachin Gupta bt B. Dhiraj 6-2. U-17: Paras Hooda bt Rahul 6-4
• Women U-21: Sakshi Rajendra bt Suparna Singh 6-0. U-17: Komalika Bari bt Shaniya Sharma 6-2.
• Compound
• Men U-21: Sangampreet Singh Bisla bt Rahul 145-139. U-17: Ritik Chahal bt Prathamesh Samadhan Jawkar 143-142.
• Women U-21: Anita Kumari bt Muskan Kirar 145-144. U-17: Isha Ketan bt Sanchita Tiwari 145-142.

• Men U-21: Manush Shah bt Anirban Ghosh 11-8, 7-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4.
• Women U-21: Surabhi Patwar bt Kaushani Nath 11-8, 11-5, 10-12, 10-12, 11-7, 7-11, 16-14.

• Men U-21: Kerala bt Tamil Nadu 21-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-20. U-17: Uttar Pradesh bt Gujarat 25-17, 25-20, 25-23.
• Women U-21: Tamil Nadu bt Kerala 23-25, 11-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-9. U-17: West Bengal bt Maharashtra 25-15, 25-13, 25-14.