National Games 2023: Maharashtra leads the medal race

The National Games 2023, India’s home-grown multi-sport event inspired by the Olympics, is currently underway in five Goan cities – Mapusa, Margao, Panjim, Ponda and Vasco. The 37th edition of the National Games began kicked off with a grand opening ceremony on Thursday (October 26) in Goa. So far, 12 teams have won at least one gold medal at the event.

Maharashtra is currently leading the National Games 2023 medals table with 19 medals; six gold, six silvers and seven bronze, with notable success in weightlifting, badminton, gymnastics, and pencak silat. Maharashtra stands as the sole state to enter the double digits in the medal count for this edition of the National Games.

Following closely behind, the Services Sports Control Board has secured five gold medals, while Haryana and Karnataka both boast four gold medals each. They currently hold the second, third, and fourth positions in the rankings, distinguished by the count of gold medals.

Assam and Tamil Nadu are next in line, each with a total of five medals. Assam shines with three gold medals, while Manipur and Tamil Nadu have each clinched a pair of gold medals. The following positions in the medal tally, ranging from seventh to tenth, are occupied by Manipur, West Bengal, Punjab, and Telangana.

These states have achieved a mix of medal success, with Assam leading in gold medals, while the others have earned a single gold medal so far. Additionally, states like Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram have also managed to secure one gold medal each during the National Games 2023.

A total of 25 states have proudly claimed medals in this year’s National Games, with 14 of them celebrating the coveted gold medal victory. Delhi holds the 23rd position with five bronze medals, demonstrating their prowess in badminton, netball, and gymnastics.

Odisha has a couple of medals attributed to weightlifting, while Arunachal Pradesh, despite being at the bottom of the rankings, can also boast one medal, earned in the same sport.

The 37th edition of the National Games, scheduled to conclude on November 9, has drawn participation from athletes representing 28 states, eight Union Territories, and the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB). This historic event marks the first time that Goa has been chosen as the host for the National Games.