How Did Mansukh Mandaviya Praise Manipur and Nagaland for Their Achievements?

Diu, May 24 (NationPress) The Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, expressed his admiration for Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu for successfully hosting the inaugural Khelo India Beach Games. These Games, which commenced on May 19, came to a close on Saturday at the INS Khukri Memorial in Diu.

"Diu has always been dear to me, and I extend my sincere congratulations to the Union Territory for adeptly organizing the Khelo India Beach Games 2025. It aligns with the vision of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Narendra Modi ji, to establish Diu as a prime destination for Beach Games in India, and I believe the organizers have excelled in providing the athletes with the necessary comfort and attention," he stated.

“A special commendation goes to Manipur for achieving the top rank, closely followed by Maharashtra in second place and Nagaland in third. I would like to commend Nagaland for securing a position in the top three of a Khelo India event for the very first time, and Manipur has exhibited remarkable bravery and skill, particularly in pencak silat. I also congratulate DNGDD and Jammu and Kashmir for their exemplary dedication to cultivating sporting talent and promoting a culture of excellence,” remarked the Sports Minister.

In total, 811 athletes participated in six medal sports – pencak silat, sepak-takraw, soccer, volleyball, open sea swimming, and kabaddi. Mallakhamb and tug-of-war were featured as non-medal demonstration sports. A total of 46 gold medals were up for grabs, with 31 states and Union Territories joining the beach sports celebration.

“Beyond just the medal count, it's crucial to understand that in sports, there are no true losers — you either win or you learn. This was the inaugural occasion for the Beach Games under the Khelo India initiative, and I appreciate everyone for fostering the spirit of healthy competition and national pride,” he highlighted.

The Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, remarked that the Khelo India Beach Games have marked the beginning of a new era. “Our young athletes have genuinely illuminated the shores of Diu with their talent,” she noted during her speech at the closing ceremony.

Reinforcing the goals of the Khelo India Mission, she emphasized, “The Khelo India initiative was launched to enhance the sports culture at the grassroots level throughout the nation. The Khelo India Beach Games represent a significant milestone in this endeavor, bringing attention to many exciting and lesser-known beach and water sports.”

“There exists a vast reservoir of sports talent in the Northeast, and our government's priority is to fully harness this talent. The outstanding performance of these states at the Beach Games is evidence that, with the right opportunities and incentives, they can achieve greatness on both national and international stages.”