Khelo India Beach Games Diu: Maharashtra’s Diksha Yadav Wins Double Gold In Open Sea Swimming

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The Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) 2025 is underway and youth athletes are already showing grit. Maharashtra’s Diksha Yadav secured a double gold in open sea swimming on Thursday, May 22. The 19-year-old won both the 10km and 5km events held at the scenic Ghoghla Beach in Diu.

Taking on the challenging waters of the Arabian Sea for the very first time, Diksha clocked 1 hour, 10 minutes and 12 seconds to emerge victorious in the women’s 5km open swim, narrowly edging out compatriot Purva Gawade and Karnataka’s Aasra R Sudhir, who finished second and third respectively.

Speaking to reporters post her victory, Diksha said, “The double gold at KIBG 2025 is a reflection of all the hard work and practice I’ve put in. The conditions were favourable today, and it feels great to win against the odds.”

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Meanwhile, in the men’s 5km open swim, Karnataka’s Drupad Ramakrishna topped the podium with a time of 1 hour, 6 minutes and 46 seconds. 

On winning, the 15-year-old, said: “This is just the beginning. I am hungry for more. At our centre, we train rigorously to prepare for open sea conditions. Competing here felt like home—just with more waves,” Drupad remarked confidently.

Khelo India Beach Games 5km open sea swimming: Results 

Men

1. Drupad Ramakrishna (Karnataka) – 1:06:46
2. Gundu Vishnu Vardhan (Telangana) – 1:06:58
3. Hemanth A (Tamil Nadu) – 1:07:41

Women

1. Diksha Yadav (Maharashtra) – 1:10:12
2. Purva Gawade (Maharashtra) – 1:10:25
3. Aasra R Sudhir (Karnataka) – 1:10:29

The KIBG 2025 will be the third Khelo India event of the year after the Winter Games and recently concluded Youth Games.

The first edition of the Beach Games will host over 1000 athletes from 22 States and UTs from across the country, who will be competing across six medal sports and two demonstration events at KIBG 2025.

Also Read: Khelo India Youth Games 2025: Jammu And Kashmir Makes History

Khelo India Beach Games 2025: Schedule

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