India finish with eight medals at inaugural Youth Olympics

SINGAPORE - The Indian contingent will return home with a rich haul of medals from the inaugural Youth Olympics which concluded here Thursday.

India finished their campaign with an overall tally of eight medals which include six silver and two bronze.

China was at the top of the medals tally with 30 gold, 16 silver and five bronze medals.

Russia (18-14-11) and South Korea (11-4-4) were placed second and third, respectively, in the medals tally.

India finished 58th among the 84 countries that won medals, though it could have finished much higher with a gold to show. Nevertheless, Indian athletes would be happy with their performance.

Around 3,600 athletes in the age group of 14-18 took part in the Youth Olympics. India had sent a contingent of 32 athletes.

India put up a good show at the event and won medals in athletics, boxing, wrestling and tennis.

Wrestler Pooja Dhanda won the first medal for India by winning a silver in the women’s 60kg freestyle. Another wrestler, Satywart Kadian won a bronze in the men’s 100kg freestyle.

Discus thrower Arjun sprung a suprise by pocketing a silver and giving India its first medal in athletics. Durgesh Kumar followed it up with a silver in the 400m hurdles final.

Shuttler H.S. Prannoy, who has been making waves at junior level and won a bronze in the world championships, had an impressive tournament but lost to Pisit Poodchalat of Thailand in the boys final, bagging a silver.

Tennis sensation Yuki Bhambri, who stunned second seed Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina, had to contend with a silver after he was forced to retire in the final against Juan Sebastian Gomez of Colombia because of cramps. Yuki was trailing in the third and deciding set when he retired hurt 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 1-4.

The Indian boxers Shiva Thapa and Vikas Krishan won silver and bronze in the 60kg and 54kg category.

The International Olympics Association (IOA) President Jaques Rogge was pleased the way the Games were organised and said some countries regretted not sending their top athletes to Singapore.

“The Youth Games have definitely exceeded my highest expectations,” said Rogge.

“They all told me that they regretted it, and that they have underestimated the scope of the competition. The countries have promised to send their best teams to the next summer games to be held in Nanjing, China in 2014.”

–Indo–Asian News Service