Munish Sood
MANDI: Himachal Pradesh has once again made its mark on the national sports map, with its players securing second position at the 8th National Savate (French Kickboxing) Championship held in Chandigarh.
The state team delivered an exceptional performance, winning a total of 45 medals — 16 gold, 9 silver and 19 bronze — across multiple categories. Their collective effort and discipline earned them the runners-up trophy at the prestigious national event.
Sharing the achievement, Santoshi Sharma, general secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Savate Association, said the players exhibited outstanding technique, commitment and fighting spirit throughout the competition.
“Our athletes have proven that Himachal’s youth are not only strong in determination but also capable of competing at the highest levels in combat sports. This success is the result of their hard work and the association’s continuous efforts to promote Savate in the state,” she said.
Outstanding individual performances
In the children’s category, Vikramaditya clinched gold while Aarush Thakur secured bronze. In the cadet group, Kavyanshi and Mokshit Kondal bagged gold, while Varunika won silver. The junior category saw remarkable performances from Namrata Sharma, Om Konshal and Kavyanshi, each winning gold, alongside several podium finishes by Rijul, Kartik Verma, Krityan Rao and others.
In the youth category, Surya Pratap, Lakshya Kumar, Sneha and Minal Thakur brought home gold medals, while Minal Sharma and Ashish Walia earned silver.
The senior category witnessed dominant performances by Harish Kumar, Muskan, Rekha, Sapna Kumari and Roma, each clinching gold. Rishav Sharma stood out with both a gold and a bronze medal in his events.
The Himachal team was led by Santoshi Sharma herself, who guided and mentored the players throughout the tournament. Team Manager Inder Kumar was credited for his effective coordination and management of the squad.
Adding to the state’s pride, five Himachali officials — Amar Chand Walia, Pankaj Kumar, Roma, Rishav Sharma and Harish Kumar — served as judges and referees at the championship, contributing to the fair and professional conduct of matches.
Madan Lal, president of the Himachal Pradesh Savate Association, congratulated the players and officials for their exceptional performance.
“The youth of Himachal Pradesh are continuously scaling new heights in sports. Their achievements in martial arts like savate highlight both their discipline and the growing sporting culture of our state,” he said.
The success of the Himachal team at the national championship is being seen as a major boost to the state’s sports ecosystem and a testament to the potential of young athletes who are steadily earning recognition on the national stage.
