*Karnataka grabs three gold out of five so far; ITBP cruises in ice-hockey
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
LEH, Feb 3: Top Indian Ice-skater Varsha Puranik proved why she is still the best in the skating competition by winning gold in the 300m short track race for women in the above 17 years category of Khelo India Winter Games 2024 here today. Varsha’s Karnataka teammate Akash Aradhya also grabbed attention with his second individual gold of the Games.
Varsha Aradhya, who won the men’s over-17 short track (500m) final at the NDS Stadium in Leh on Saturday, have given Karnataka a head start in the short-form skating competition. Karnataka, who have three gold medals out of the five decided so far, lead the overall medal tally.
One more skating gold medal was decided at the NDS Stadium in Leh on Saturday. Telangana won their first gold medal when Naiyanashri Tallur won the women’s Under-17 short track (300m) final. It is interesting to see skaters from the plains doing well in the Khelo India Winter Games 2024. Officials say most skaters started as roller skaters and then moved to ice skating.
The 37-year-old, Varsha Puranik was certainly the toast of the day who has been participating in international tournaments since 2001, continues to dominate her category. With loads of experience behind her, Varsha, whose last international were the World Games in July 2022 in the US, was a start-to-finish winner, clocking 39.81 seconds.
“I’m a microbiologist by profession and skating is my passion. Originally I am a roller skater for which I have represented India at the 2018 Asian Games. On suggestion of my coach. K. Srikantha Rao, I chose to take up ice skating. I would like to thank the Ice Skating Association of India for all the help they have provided and I would like to especially thank Khelo India and UT Ladakh for such warm hospitality and top level facility that they have provided to the players,” said Varsha Puranik.
Aradhya (54.91 seconds) also rode his international experience when he out-sprinted Suyog Tapkir (55.27) of Maharashtra for the gold medal. Aradhya has represented India in various internationals and was the nation’s flag bearer at the 2017 Asian Winter Games in Japan.
The ice-hockey competition also entered its second day on Saturday with top-seeded teams like ITBP, Army and Ladakh in dominating form. In Group A, ITBP men smashed Haryana 13-0 in the day’s first match with Mohammed Ismail scoring four goals. Army scored a massive 24-0 win against Rajasthan men in a group B game, with Tsewang Dorjey scoring six goals and Tsewang Stanzin netting four. In another group B men’s match, UT-Ladakh trounced Maharashtra 13-0. In the day’s only women’s round-robin match, ITBP humbled Telangana 19-0.
Skating Results at A Glance
Women’s 17+ short track (300m) final
1. Varsha Puranik (39.81 sec) Karnataka
2. Swaralli Deo (41.07) Maharashtra
3. Stuti Dhandhania (42.79) Haryana
Women’s Under-17 short track (300m) final
1. Naiyanashri Tallur (39.05 seconds) Telangana
2. Swaroopa Kadeshmukh (39.44 sec) Maharashtra
3. Udreka Singh (43:09) Madhya Pradesh
Men’s 17+ short track (500m) final
1. Akash Aradhya (54.91 seconds) Karnataka
2. Suyog Tapkir (55.27 sec) Maharashtra
3. Sumit Tapkir (57.59 sec) Maharashtra
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