SHAW BECOMES YOUNGEST KHELO CHAMP

Pune: Abhinav Shaw became the youngest gold medallist at the Khelo India Youth Games when he teamed up with Mehuli Ghosh to help West Bengal win the 10m air-rifle mixed team event here on Sunday. The 10-year-old from Asansol raised his game enough in the final to ensure Mehuli classy display would not result in any medal other than her second gold. The pint-sized but hugely talented young star made his team-mate, state and parents proud. A shy lad, embracing quiet, he has taken rapid strides in the direction his father Rupesh and coach Joydeep Karmakar, who missed Olympic bronze in 2012, have chosen for him. The West Bengal team scored 501.7 points in the final, better than their 498.2 in the Junior final and the 498.8 in the Youth final in Thiruvananthapuram. Meanwhile, Aditee Dandekar and Arik Dey turned in meticulous performances as Maharashtra once again dominated the gymnastics arena to wrap up the Under-21 category with a whopping nine medals on the last day of competition. With 18 medals (nine gold, six silver and three bronze), Maharashtra were also crowned champions. The star of Maharashtra’s success story on the day was Aditee.