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Ranchi, Feb. 12: The state forest department has given a good account of itself in the sporting arena, winning four medals during a national meet that concluded at Panchkula in Haryana today.
Jharkhand sent a 50-member contingent of officials and participants at the All India Forest Sports Meet, which began on February 8.
Judging by performances at the annual meet that promotes sports and fitness among the country’s forest staff, the state officials of a cash-starved department are doing fine though they have little to show in terms of maintenance of parks and sanctuaries.
“We won one gold, one bronze and two silvers in power lifting, badminton and 400m walkathon,” state team manager Praveen Aggarwal told The Telegraph over phone.
Umesh Pandey, an assistant in the wildlife wing, bagged two medals in individual categories of power lifting.
“He bagged gold in power lifting in the 93-105kg men’s veteran category and a bronze in the senior men’s veteran category,” said Aggarwal.
Vinita Munda, a grade III official posted with Chaibasa division, bagged a silver in 400m walk.
Seraikela DFO A.T. Mishra’s silver medal in badminton men’s veteran singles is the first for Jharkhand in the category since it began 20 years ago. “I am happy to be the first from Jharkhand to win in this category. The quality of badminton players was really very good but the initial win and consistency gave me confidence. The final was close.”
In the medals tally, Jharkhand finished 22nd out of 34. Chhattisgarh clinched the champion’s title with 66 medals followed by Madhya Pradesh (60) and Uttarakhand (54). States like Bihar and Chandigarh failed to win any medal.
As many as 28 states, seven Union Territories and 10 foreign research institutes competed in 173 disciplines.
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