Sport - Sports : General

Curtains come down on the CYG

PUNE: Colourful dances showcasing India were performed, as athletes from 71 nations danced to the tune of foot-tapping music, in keeping with the Games theme ‘Friends Forever’ as Commonwealth Games Federation president, Michael Fennel declared the third Commonwealth Youth Games closed, at the Shiv Chatrapati sports complex here on Saturday.

India topped the medals tally with 33 gold, 26 silver and 17 bronze medals; Australia (24, 19, 22) and England (18, 9, 14) finished in second and third positions.

IOA president Suresh Kalmadi, in his speech, said that Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had announced cash incentives of Rs. 10 lakh for gold medallists from the state, Rs. seven lakh for silver medallists and Rs. five lakhs for winners of bronze. He also expressed his wish for Pune to host the Olympic Games in future.

Olympic swimmer Virdhawal Khade, the biggest individual contributor to the nation’s medal tally — with three golds and three silvers — who India’s flag-bearer at the opening ceremony was given the honour of carrying the tricolor at closing ceremony too.

Final medal tally: The top 10 (read as country, gold, silver, bronze): India 33-26-17; Australia 24-19-22; England 18-9-14; South Africa 7-14-9; Canada 6-10-10; Wales 5-5-6; Malaysia 3-4-6; Scotland 3-3-12; New Zealand 3-1-3; Kenya 3-0-3.

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