PTI
GUWAHATI, FEBRUARY 16
Northeast India’s diverse and colourful culture were in full display as the curtains were brought down on the 12th South Asian Games amid magnificent fireworks that lit the night sky over the capital city today.
India’s regional supremacy went unchallenged as the hosts were crowned overall champions for the 12th consecutive time after notching up a record-breaking haul of 308 medals, dominating the final day of competitions as well in the South Asian Games here on Tuesday.
With women boxers scooping all the three Gold medals on offer and the judokas also bagging two Gold and two Silver on the last day of the Games, India’s final tally came to 188 Gold, 99 Silver And 30 Bronze medals.It was a massive jump in medal count for the Indians, who had won 175, including 90 gold, in the previous edition of the Games in 2010.
At the distant second spot were Sri Lanka with a haul of 186 medals (25 Silver, 63 Silver And 98 Bronze). Pakistan held on to the third spot with a final count of 106 medals (12 Gold, 37 Silver and 57 Bronze). Union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal declared the Games closed at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium here to mark the formal end to the 12-day biggest multi-sporting spectacle of the eight SAARC countries, jointly co-hosted by Guwahati and Shillong.
“I declare the 12th South Asian Games closed,” Sonowal said in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Meghalaya Sports Minister Zenith M Sangma and Indian Olympic Association top bosses to bring a sombre end to the Games competed among more than 2500 athletes from eight countries.
The Games flame at the cauldron was extinguished as the Guwahati night sky was lit with fireworks. The flag of the South Asian Olympic Council was lowered and handed over to the officials of next host country — Nepal.
Sonowal handed the flag to the President of the South Asian Olympic Council N Ramachandran, who in turn handed it to 13th SAG Organising Committee Chairman and Nepal Olympic Committee chief Jeevan Ram Shreshtha in the presence of Nepal Sports Minister Satyanarayan Mandal.
The Games, which were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 5 during a spectacular opening ceremony, had been quite a success on the sporting front though there were organisational issues, including provision of media facilities. The evening today began with performances by eight live bands from across the North Eastern states before the official closing ceremony started.
Mary Kom, Sarita strike Gold
SHILLONG: M.C. Mary Kom and Pooja Rani knocked out their respective opponents while L. Sarita Devi survived a scare as India grabbed all the three gold medals on offer in women’s boxing for an overall clean-sweep of top honours in the 12th South Asian Games on Tuesday.
On a comeback trail after recovering from a shoulder injury, London Olympics bronze-medallist Mary Kom (51kg) packed a powerful punch against her Sri Lankan rival Anusha Kodituwakku Dilrukshi to be adjudged winner via Technical Knockout (TKO) in a bout lasting less than 90 seconds.
With Mary landing some powerful blows, Anusha lost her balance and injured her right knee. This forced her to take a medical break before attempting a comeback.
However, a booming jab from the five-time world champion sent her almost out of the ring before the referee intervened.
The injury to Anusha will take about two-three months to heal.
“Anusha has sustained medical collateral ligament tear which would take about two three months to recover,” the Sri Lankan team doctor told PTI.
When asked about her opponent, Mary Kom said, “I’m so happy when anyone challenges me, I don’t comment before the bout. But deep inside, I was very positive.” “After children, the comeback is not easy. I still do training to motivate myself. I’m thankful to my entire team,” she said.
Sarita Devi, returning to the ring after her one-year ban following the infamous Asian Games meltdown, faced a stiff challenge from another Sri Lankan opponent in M. Vidushika Prabadhi. The Incheon bronze-medallist overwhelmed the Lankan in the first two rounds but her opponent came back strongly in the third round with some powerful blows leading to Sarita falling twice before the Indian won by a narrow 39-36 margin to be adjudged winner 3-0.
