News In Frames | Surf, sand and sports activities

The inaugural version of Khelo India Beach Games organised in May within the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu was a present of blended feelings. The elation of victories paralleled the disappointments of falling quick.

During the open water swimming occasion, which was held beneath hostile climate situations, dad and mom have been apprehensive and have been ready on the shore for his or her competing youngsters to soundly return from the ocean. Their issues have been drowned within the cheers of native individuals, volunteers and supporters for the kids.

The video games have been held on the blue-flag licensed Ghoghla Beach close to Diu city. Over 1,300 athletes from 31 States and Union Territories competed in six occasions — seashore soccer, sepak takraw, pencak silat, open water swimming, seashore volleyball, and seashore kabaddi. Ironically, landlocked Manipur got here out because the champions by the sandy shores of Ghoghla.

Apart from the competitors occasions, the hosts additionally put the U.T.’s personal sporting expertise on show on the ultimate day of the video games, demonstrating agility with Mallakhamb — a standard type of gymnastics; energy with tug-of-war; and grit with boxing.

The five-day occasion gave mediapersons lots to cope with as photographers typically needed to cope with undesirable muddle within the background whereas on the lookout for the right body. Others must rival the decibel ranges of booming audio system to get throughout to athletes.

The pure lighting of dawns and dusks made protecting the video games early within the morning or late within the night extremely fascinating, particularly the occasions of seashore kabaddi and sepak takraw, through which gamers have been form of flying over the sand to attain factors beneath the rising/setting solar spinning its personal net.

The Games had its moments regardless of challenges, and the seashore sports activities neighborhood will hope that the competitors augurs effectively for its future.

Published – June 15, 2025 11:35 am IST