Prasanna Behindre, who won a gold medal in pencak silat, has hailed the Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) for providing a platform for youngsters. The Khelo India Beach Games, currently being held in Daman and Diu, presents a great opportunity for these sportspersons to showcase their talent and aspire to reach the international stage.
Celebrating the Victory
“Winning a gold medal is a proud moment for the UT; I have won a medal for the UT, and I am very happy. I hope to win more medals in the future. The experience was very good; I enjoyed it a lot, and it was a new experience for me. Khelo India is giving us a platform like beach games—it is such a big platform,” said Prasanna Behindre, a Pencak Silat athlete.
Sohail Gurung’s Silver Medal Journey
Sohail Gurung from Odisha, who participated in the 55-60 kg weight category and bagged a silver medal, expressed his excitement about the event.
“My name is. I played in the 55-60 category in the event and won a silver medal. Regarding winning a silver medal, I am happy and sad at the same time; I couldn’t get a gold medal in one step, but next time I will try to get a gold medal. Khelo India is a good platform where everyone is getting a good scope. This is a new beach game and the first time I have played on the beach. It was a good first-time experience. Usually, we play on the mat, and it requires a lot of stamina and power to play on the sand. Overall, it was a good first-time experience, and next time I will try to play better,” Sohail Gurung shared.
Overview of the Games
The Khelo India Beach Games 2026, organized by the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, is being held under the technical supervision of the Sports Authority of India and national sports federations.
The second edition of the Khelo India Beach Games 2026 is witnessing over 1100 participants competing in eight different sports: volleyball, soccer, sepaktakraw, kabaddi, pencak silat, open water swimming, mallakhamb, and tug-of-war. Of these, the first six are medal sports, with 32 gold medals available for winners.