CHANDIGARH, DEC 7 : Chattisgarh finished majestically to claim the overall trophy with 246 points in the 17th All India Forest Games curtain on which came down today at the Panjab University Campus here. They struck a goldmine by claiming 31 gold, 15 silver and 15 bronze medals. Madhya Pradesh were runners-up with 202 points with 17 gold, 21 silver and 18 bronze medals. Kerala (18-14-11) occupied the third position with 161 points.
Uttar Pradesh (10-6-9, 97 pts), Tamil Nadu (8-6-7, 91 pts), Karnataka (3-13-10, 88 pts), Maharashtra (4-6-11, 83 pts), Himachal Pradesh (3-9-8, 69 pts), Meghalya (5-5-4, 58 pts, hosts Punjab (5-4-2, 45 pts), Tripura (5-3-2, 40 pts), Uttrakhand (3-3-5, 38) and West Bengal (2-2-7, 35 pts) fnished in that order.
The next edition of the All-India Forest Games & Sports Meet will be hosted by West Bengal next year. Haryana won the tug of war event after beating Punjab. The best sportsman award was claimed by A.J. Minj of Chhatisgarh. The best sportsman spirit award was given to Shiv Shankar of Andhra Pradesh. Meghalaya won gold in football while J & K finished runners-up. Jammu and Kashmir also won the cricket trophy and Karnataka were runners-up.
Punjab Forest Minister Tikshan Sud congratulated the medal winners from Punjab Forest Department in these games and announced cash award of Rs.20,000 for gold medalists, Rs.10,000 for silver medalists and Rs. 5,000 for bronze madalists in individual categories and Rs. 5,000 for each Punjab sportsman, who was a part of a winning team in these games.
Dr. R.C. Sobti, Vice Chancellor Panjab University presided over the function. Balramji Das Tandon, Ex-Minister Punjab, R.C. Nayyar, Financial Commissioner (Forests), and B.C. Bala were also present on the occasion.