Sajan Prakash’s National Games gold medal count increases to 15

Ace swimmer Sajan Prakash on Saturday bagged his first gold medal of the 38th National Games at Haldwani in Uttarakhand. The 31-year-old has increased his gold count in the National Games to 15, including 14 gold medals from four previous events.

Sajan clocked 2:01.40 to clinch gold in men's 200 m butterfly to add to his tally of two bronze medals secured on the first day of the Games. He could not break his record of 1:59.38 set in 2023. Assam's Bikram Changmai (2:04.23) and Haryana's Harsh Saroha (2:04.48) took silver and bronze respectively.

Kerala added one more gold medal from the pools as Harshitha Jayaram claimed her second gold of the Games after a thrilling final in women's 50m breaststroke.

Harshitha clocked 34.14 seconds for gold, while the Punjabi duo of Chahat Arora (34.37) and Avni Chhabra (34.86) won silver and bronze respectively. Harshitha had taken gold in the 200 m breaststroke on Thursday.

Kerala have climbed into third position in aquatic events with five medals, including three gold. Karnataka have a commanding lead with 19 medals, including 11 gold, while Maharashtra are second with 13 medals, of which four are gold.

Kerala's overall medals tally has increased to nine, comprising five gold medals, one silver, and three bronze medals.