Special Correspondent
Pune :In a remarkable display of consistency and sporting excellence, Maharashtra has secured the overall championship at the 68th National School Sports Championship, adding yet another feather to its cap after earlier victories in the National Games and Khelo India Youth Games this year. With this latest win, Maharashtra becomes the first state in India’s history to clinch all three major multi-sport titles in a single calendar year.
The state’s young athletes put on a dominant performance, winning a staggering 530 medals, which included 197 gold, 159 silver, and 174 bronze. The championship trophy was formally presented to Sheetal Teli-Ugale, Commissioner of Sports and Youth Welfare, during a ceremony held at Pune’s Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex. The award was handed over by Deputy Directors Sudhir More and Uday Joshi, in the presence of officials Sanjay Sabnis and Arun Patil.
Unmatched Performance on the National Stage
Speaking at the event, Commissioner Teli-Ugale praised the extraordinary achievements of the student athletes. “Maharashtra has proven once again that it leads not only in senior and youth sports but also at the school level. This success belongs to the athletes, their coaches, families, and the sports organizers who supported them every step of the way,” she said, assuring that the government will continue to back young sports talent with full dedication.
This year, Maharashtra overcame tough competition from sporting giants like Delhi and Haryana. Delhi, which came second, secured 336 medals (124 gold, 94 silver, 118 bronze), while Haryana followed with 297 medals (114 gold, 80 silver, 103 bronze). Maharashtra had fielded a massive contingent of 2,528 school athletes, who competed in 155 events across 42 sports disciplines, making their presence felt across the board.
The National School Games Federation of India (SGFI) formally recognized Maharashtra’s stellar performance at its annual general meeting in New Delhi. The championship trophy was handed over to the state representatives — Deputy Director Uday Joshi and Sports Officer Arun Patil by SGFI President Deepak Kumar, in the presence of delegates from across the country.
This victory marks a historic achievement for Maharashtra. It is now officially the first state in India to win the overall title in the National Games, Khelo India Youth Games, and the National School Sports Championship in the same year. Even more impressively, Maharashtra has repeated this clean sweep for the second year in a row, setting a new benchmark for sports excellence at all levels school, youth, and senior.
To honor the achievements of these young athletes, the Sports and Youth Services Directorate will distribute cash prizes to all medal winners:
Gold medalists: ₹11,250
Silver medalists: ₹8,950
Bronze medalists: ₹6,750
Participants: ₹3,750 as a scholarship
This financial support is part of the state’s larger effort to encourage sports participation from the grassroots level.
Maharashtra’s Sports Minister Dattatray Bharane and Additional Chief Secretary Anil Diggikar joined the celebrations by sending virtual congratulations to the medal winners. They highlighted the role of sustained investment in youth sports, infrastructure, and coaching that has helped Maharashtra establish itself as a national leader in athletics and sports.
With its unmatched medal tally, organized support system, and rising young talent, Maharashtra has not only dominated the sports arena this year but also set the standard for other states to follow.
