Khelo India Beach Games: Hosts Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu had a golden start on Day 2 of the first Khelo India Beach Games in Diu on Tuesday. The first golds of the Games were decided in pencak silat competition with Daman & Diu, winning two of the first three.
Pencak silat is a form of Indonesian martial art and it was great see a Union Territory hemmed by the Arabian Sea excelling in the open competition at these Games. Prasanna Narendra Bendre of Daman & Diu won the gold in the senior men’s tunggal (artistic) event while Kirtana Manojkumar Acharya of the home team struck gold in the senior female category.
A third gold was decided in the pencak silat completion in the morning session at the Ghoghla Beach. In solo event (artistic), Punjab’s Aaryan won gold ahead of Odisha’s Sohil Gurung. Pencak silat is an extremely technical sport with points awarded on artistic forms and creativity.
