Daman & Diu Shine at Khelo India Beach Games, Lead Medal Tally with Golden Pencak Silat Sweep

Host team Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (DNHDD) stole the spotlight at the Khelo India Beach Games, topping the medal table on Wednesday with three gold medals, all clinched in the martial art sport of pencak silat.

The highlight came late Tuesday when Princess Thomas secured the gold in the Creative Solo (Women) category, completing a golden hat-trick for the hosts. Earlier, Prasanna Narendra Bendre (Tunggal Senior Male) and Kirtana Manojkumar Acharya (Tunggal Senior Female) also made the region proud. Prasanna, alongside Sudhanshu Srivastava, added a bronze in the Ganda Senior Male category.

In total, eight golds have been awarded in pencak silat so far, with Manipur bagging two, and Delhi, Punjab, and Maharashtra taking home one each, as per a release by SAI Media.

Thrills in the Water and on the Sand

Wednesday also witnessed the conclusion of four more gold events—two in the grueling 10 km open water swimming and two in sepak takraw (team format with three players).

Maharashtra's Diksha Yadav and Karnataka's Renukacharya Hodmani emerged champions in the women’s and men’s open water swimming, respectively, braving the early morning tides of the Arabian Sea.

Renukacharya, just 17, completed the distance in 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 40 seconds, and shared how he took to open water swimming just three years ago. “It’s a very different experience. The sea brings its own challenges,” he said.

Diksha, who clocked 2 hours, 18 minutes, and 9 seconds, added, “It was fun, but tough! Jellyfish stings and crashing waves blocked my vision at times. But the experience was amazing.”

Sepak Takraw – A Showstopper

Sepak takraw, a crowd-favorite sport where players use their head and feet in volleyball-style action, delivered high drama. Played on Diu’s Ghoghla Beach, the finals were packed with tension and rain-soaked drama.

Despite its rich tradition in the sport, Manipur suffered heartbreak in both men’s and women’s trio team finals, losing to Delhi and Haryana respectively—both with intense 2-1 scorelines.

Delhi’s team captain, Sandeep Kumar, 35, reflected on the weather’s impact. “We lost the first regu, but after the rain, the conditions shifted in our favor,” he said. His team trains beside the Yamuna River in Delhi’s Majnu Ka Tila.

A Festival of Sport and Local Glory

The host region’s performance in pencak silat marks a breakthrough in national sporting recognition. Their success story mirrors the broader aim of the Khelo India Beach Games—to unearth local talent and celebrate India's coastal spirit.

As the event continues, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu are proudly scripting a golden chapter in their sporting journey.