J&K Bags 5 Golds, Finishes 4th Among 30 States and UTs

Jammu and Kashmir delivered a spectacular performance at the Khelo India Beach Games 2025, securing 9 medals — including 5 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze — and earning widespread praise from top dignitaries and sports fans.

Held at the scenic Ghoghla Beach in Diu, the national multi-sport event saw participation from over 1,350 athletes representing 30 states and union territories, competing in six main sports: beach soccer, volleyball, kabaddi, sepaktakraw, pencak silat, and open water swimming.

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Praise from Union Ministers

Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated the J&K team for their outstanding commitment to sports and praised their contribution to nurturing young talent. The closing ceremony took place at the INS Khukri Memorial, where the achievements of all states were honored.

Minister of State for Youth Affairs Raksha Nikhil Khadse called the event a milestone for Indian sports, stating, “Our athletes have lit up Diu’s coastline with their talent and energy.”

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Pencak Silat Dominance and Team Rankings

J&K athletes especially stood out in pencak silat:

• Men’s Team – Champions
• Women’s Team – Third Place

This strong showing helped J&K finish 4th overall, marking one of its best performances in a national sports event.

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J&K Medal Winners

Gold Medalists:

• Saaliq Farooq
• Adeeba Gulzar
• Muskan Shaban
• Sajad Beigh
• Tawzeeh Mujeeb

Silver Medalist:

• Jibran Masood

Bronze Medalists:

• Ravees Ahmad
• Ruqaya Manzoor
• Sarfaraz Ali

The J&K Beach Volleyball team also impressed, defeating teams from Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and Chhattisgarh.

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Government Support and Encouragement

Led by the Divisional Sports Officer, the J&K contingent was supported by the J&K Sports Council. Their successful journey is a result of consistent training camps, infrastructure upgrades, and strategic planning.

J&K Youth Services and Sports Minister Satish Sharma congratulated the athletes and reaffirmed the government’s vision to transform J&K into a national sports hub.

“Ongoing infrastructure development and training support are helping our youth achieve national success,” said Sharma.

Sarmad Hafeez, Secretary of Youth Services and Sports, appreciated the team’s efforts and thanked Union Minister Mandaviya for his continued encouragement.

Nuzhat Gul, Secretary of J&K Sports Council, praised the dedication of both athletes and coaches, adding that J&K is steadily moving toward sports excellence.