City lad Keshav secures bronze

Anil Datt

Ludhiana, March 17

Keshav Thakur from Ludhiana added another medal to his kitty as he secured bronze medal in the All-India Inter-Universities Gymnastics Championship held from March 14 to 16 on the Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) campus ground, Amritsar.

Keshav, a trainee of his father and coach, with the Punjab Sports Department, Prem Singh, who imparts training at the coaching centre run here at the multipurpose indoor hall of Guru Nanak Stadium, finished at third place to win bronze medal in the parallel bars event.

Keshav Thakur has already proved his mettle winning positions at different-level competitions. He started taking part in gymnastics in 2008.

He was adjudged the best all-round gymnast in the Panjab University Inter-College Gymnastics Championship held in February 12 on the university campus, Chandigarh.

Keshav stamped his class winning one gold and five silver medals to be declared the best all-round gymnast in this championship. He was named the best all-round competitor to clinch gold medal, besides annexing silver medals in the pommel horse, parallel bars, high bar, still rings and team event.

Last year, Keshav was named the second best gymnast in the Punjab State Games held under the Punjab Tandrust Mission at Patiala. He clinched six medals to help Ludhiana squad finish as overall runners-up.

At Patiala, Keshav emerged winner in the roman rings and parallel bars events to clinch gold medals. He secured silver medal in the high bar event, besides securing bronze medals in the table vault and pommel horse events. In addition to this, Keshav was named the second all-round gymnast.

In 2017, Keshav represented Punjab in the 63rd National School Games, organised by the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) at Kolkata, in which he was adjudged the third best all-round gymnast, winning bronze medals in roman rings and parallel bars events. The Punjab squad finished at third place in these games.

In 2018, while representing Panjab University in the All-India Inter-Universities Gymnastics Tournament held at Chandigarh in which participants from as many as 60 universities from all over the country participated, Keshav helped his team emerge overall champions.

Keshav won three gold medals in this championship that included parallel bars, team event and the best all-round gymnast.

Ravinder Singh, District Sports Officer, congratulated Keshav for his achievements. He also appreciated coach Prem Singh for his guidance, which helped the gymnast perform well.

Previous achievements

• Last year, Keshav was named the second best gymnast in the Punjab State Games held under the Punjab Tandrust Mission at Patiala. He clinched six medals to help Ludhiana squad finish as overall runners-up
• At Patiala, Keshav emerged winner in the roman rings and parallel bars events to clinch gold medals. He secured silver medal in the high bar event, besides securing bronze medals in the table vault and pommel horse events. In addition to this, Keshav was named the second all-round gymnast
• In 2017, Keshav represented Punjab in the 63rd National School Games, organised by the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) at Kolkata, in which he was adjudged the third best all-round gymnast, winning bronze medals in roman rings and parallel bars events. The Punjab squad finished at third place in these games
• In 2018, while representing Panjab University in the All-India Inter-Universities Gymnastics Tournament held at Chandigarh in which participants from as many as 60 universities from all over the country participated, Keshav helped his team emerge overall champions

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