Sajan Prakash and Hashika Ramachandra crowned Best Athletes in National Games 2022

The 36th National Games came to a poignant end here at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Indoor Stadium on Wednesday, with Services Sports Control Board, Kerala’s Sajan Prakash and Karnataka’s Hashika Ramchandra walking away with the top honours.

The Government of Gujarat had stepped in at the last minute to revive the country’s largest and most significant sports festival after a 7-year hiatus, successfully putting it all together in less than 100 days.

India’s best athletes from all 36 States and Union Territories, adding up to over 8,000, competed in 36 sports disciplines to symbolise the Games’ motto: Judega India, Jitega India.

Honourable Vice-President Shri



Jagdeep Dhankhar gave away the coveted Raja Bhalindra Singh Trophy to the hybrid contingent of Services for the fourth time in succession. They cornered 61 gold, 35 silver and 32 bronze to tower over all the competing teams.

Maharashtra bagged the Indian Olympic Association’s Best State trophy for finishing second in the medals tally with the most medals amongst States and UTs.

Honourable Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel presented the Best Male Athlete to Sajan Prakash (5 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze) who pipped Karnataka’s Srihari Nataraj (5 gold and 2 silver) at the post in a dramatic finish. This was Sajan Prakash’s second successive honour, having won the same trophy in 2015 as well.