Maha gymnasts script golden tale of success at Khelo

Ending the tournament on a high, the Maharashtra Under-17 and Under-21 gymnastics teams walked away with the overall title in both categories by a comfortable margin ahead of West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.

In all, Maharashtra finished with 14 gold medals (U-17 five and U-21 nine), a media release said.

The first day in the U-17 category was dominated by Uttar Pradesh.

The rhythmic gymnastics all-around competition that followed saw Bavleen Kaur of Jammu and Kashmir steal the show.

However, the final day of the U-17 category belonged to Maharashtra.

It was the day of apparatus finals and the hosts won 17 medals which took their total to 21.

Maharashtra topped the U-17 medal tally with 21 medals (Golds-5, Silver-7 and Bronze-9), followed by Uttar Pradesh with 10 medals and West Bengal with four (G-4).

The story of the Under- 21 category was similar.

On the first day, Maharashtra secured three medals.

The women's artistic all around competition was won by West Bengal, while the rhythmic gymnastics (IAAC) section was won by Aditee Dandekar, another Maharashtra gymnast.

Maharashtra took the U-21 championship with a total of 18 medals (Golds-9, Silver-6, Bronze-3).

West Bengal finished second with 11 medals while Uttar Pradesh was third with six.

Maharashtra gymnastics team head coach Mahendra Babhulkar credited the strong performance to the fact that they had the opportunity to practice at the host complex in Mhalunge-Balewadi days before the event.

Many of his young gymnasts have been training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) training centre in Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

Babhulkar said having a SAI training centre in the state makes a huge difference to his gymnasts as facilities and equipment are very good.