Prem singh thapa

The Khelo India Beach Games: Till two years back, there was no opportunity for lakhs of talented youngsters around the country to participate in major beach games. The Khelo India Beach Games, currently being held in Daman and Diu, has come out as a great opportunity for these sportspersons to showcase their talent and hope to make it to the international stage from there.

Umabati Patra from Odisha, who won the gold medal in Pencak Silat in the second edition of the Khelo India Beach Games, told IANS on Thursday how the Games are a huge platform for them and was grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing such an opportunity to sportspersons like her.

"It feels amazing (to participate in these Games), and I am very happy to have won the gold medal, and I would like to give credit to the Sports Department, Odisha, for helping us train well for this competition; they took care of our diet, and all facilities were great," Umabati Patra told IANS.