52nd State Junior Boys & Girls Kho-Kho Championship and Selection Trials Dharashiv Completes Hat-Trick in Boys Category Sangli Retains Girls Title for Second Consecutive Year Solapur Finishes Third in Boys, Fourth in Girls Raj Jadhav and Dhanashree Tamkhade Win Prestigious ‘Vivekananda’ and ‘Savitri’ Awards

 

52nd State Junior Boys & Girls Kho-Kho Championship and Selection Trials

Dharashiv Completes Hat-Trick in Boys Category

Sangli Retains Girls Title for Second Consecutive Year

Solapur Finishes Third in Boys, Fourth in Girls

Raj Jadhav and Dhanashree Tamkhade Win Prestigious ‘Vivekananda’ and ‘Savitri’ Awards

 

Solapur, June 6: Dharashiv once again stamped its authority on Maharashtra Kho-Kho by winning the Boys title for the third consecutive year and completing a remarkable hat-trick at the 52nd State Junior Boys & Girls Kho-Kho Championship and Selection Trials. In the Girls category, Sangli successfully defended its title and emerged champion for the second successive year. The championship was organized by Solapur Amateur Kho-Kho Association and Kiran Sports Club under the aegis of the Maharashtra Kho-Kho Association at the Government Ground, Nehrunagar.

 

Dharashiv Clinches Boys Title

In the Boys final, Dharashiv defeated Mumbai Suburban 32-26 while maintaining a lead of 2.50 minutes. Dharashiv established control early, taking a decisive 18-12 lead at halftime with the help of two Dream Runs. Key performers for Dharashiv were Veersing Padvi (1.10, 1.10 min defence), Jitendra Vasave (3.20 min defence, 8 points), Mahesh Padvi (1.40 min defence, 2 points), Bhimsing Vasave (1.10 min defence), Raj Jadhav (1.20, 2.10 min defence, 2 points), Hardya Vasave (1.50 min defence, 8 points), Sotya Valvi (not out 1.20 min defence, 6 points) and Pintu Valvi (2 points). For runners-up Mumbai Suburban, Aryan Chavan (1.40 min defence), Sahil Wasnik (1.40, 1.00 min defence, 2 points), Sachin Sahani (1.10 min defence, 4 points), Amey Murchawade (2 points), Samarth Sawant (1.50 min defence, 10 points) and Aadesh Rathod (1.50 min defence, 8 points) fought hard but could not stop Dharashiv’s march to the title.

Sangli Retains Girls Crown

In the Girls final, defending champions Sangli defeated Thane 27-19 by 8 points and retained the title. Both teams were locked at 11-11 at halftime after earning three Dream Runs each. However, Sangli dominated the second half to seal victory. Outstanding performers for Sangli were Vaishnavi Chafe (2.40 min defence, 2 points), Shravani Tamkhade (2.16 min defence, 2 points), Vedika Tamkhade (2.10 min defence), Vidya Tamkhade (1.10 min defence), Anushka Tamkhade (8 points), Dhanashree Tamkhade (2.10 min defence, 4 points), Kritika Aher (2.30 min defence), Bhauramma Udgi (1.40 min defence, 2 points) and Payal Tamkhade (1.54 min defence, 2 points). For Thane, Prachi Wangade (1 min defence), Swara Salunkhe (1.20 min defence), Dhanashree Kank (1.50 min defence, 8 points), Shruti Chormule (2 points), Praniti Jagdale (2.20, 1 min defence, 2 points), Guddi Rathod (2.30 min defence) and Nidhi Jadhav (1.50 min defence, 4 points) performed well, but Sangli proved stronger in the second half.

 

Individual Award Winners

Boys

• Best Defender: Jitendra Dharmasing Vasave (Dharashiv)
• Best Attacker: Samarth Sanjay Sawant (Mumbai Suburban)
• Best All-Rounder: Raj Chandrajit Jadhav (Dharashiv)

Girls

• Best Defender: Dhanashree Prakash Kank (Thane)
• Best Attacker: Anushka Abaso Khade (Sangli)
• Best All-Rounder: Dhanashree Vitthal Tamkhade (Sangli)

 

Top Individual Honours

The prestigious ‘Vivekananda Award’ for Boys was won by Raj Chandrajit Jadhav (Dharashiv), while the ‘Savitri Award’ for Girls was presented to Dhanashree Vitthal Tamkhade (Sangli).

 

Grand Prize Distribution Ceremony Held

The prize distribution ceremony of the championship was conducted in a grand manner at the hands of Mr. Mahesh Gadekar, President of Solapur Amateur Kho-Kho Association; Dr. Prof. Chandrajit Jadhav, General Secretary of Maharashtra Kho-Kho Association; Sachin Godbole, Working President; Adv. Govind Sharma, Treasurer; and Ashwini Patil, Vice President.

Several dignitaries and guests were present on the occasion, including Dr. Rajesh Sonawane, Dr. Pawan Patil, Balasaheb Toraskar, Varsha Kachhwa, Abraham Bapu Awale, Kalyanrao Kale, Prof. Dr. Bapusaheb Adsul, Mahesh Nana Sathe, Sachin Chavan, Revan Rathod, Nagesh Birajdar, Shiv Chhatrapati Award winner Shrikant Dhepe, Ajit Sangve, Ambadas Jadhav, Kiran Chavan, Laxmikant Koli, Prakash Rathod, Umakant Gaikwad, Dattatray Patil, Ajit Shinde, and many other distinguished guests. The ceremony was also attended by Mrs. Alka Rathod, Mayor of Solapur Municipal Corporation and Chairperson of the tournament, along with Mohan Rajput (Secretary), Yashodeep Athawale (Joint Secretary), Principal Ambadas Pandhare, Prof. Dr. Lalsing Rajput, Arjun Pawar, Ganesh Pawar, Lalita Kengar, Prachi Jeur, Yallaling Tupe, Pravin Jadhav, Lalsing Rathod, Avinash Rathod, Madan Polke, Aniket Jadhav, Vikas Rathod, Roshan Rajput, Vikram Rathod, and office-bearers of the Solapur Amateur Kho-Kho Association and Kiran Sports Club.