Dehradun, 11 February : Haryana emerged as the undisputed champion in both men's and women's Netball (Fast 5) events at the 38th National Games, securing double gold after intense final matches. The men’s team triumphed over Kerala with a 32-29 victory, while the women’s team outplayed Telangana in a close 23-20 finish.
The journey to the finals saw thrilling contests, with teams battling fiercely in the quarterfinals. In the men's category, Haryana defeated Uttarakhand 42-26, while J&K stunned Punjab 32-27. Telangana dominated Gujarat 37-19, and Rajasthan edged past Kerala 32-30. The semifinals set the stage for Haryana’s road to gold, as they defeated Rajasthan 44-32, while Kerala overcame J&K 38-26. The bronze medal match between Rajasthan and J&K ended in a 33-33 tie, awarding both teams a shared third place on the podium.
In the women's category, Haryana cruised past Uttarakhand 30-09, Telangana bested Himachal Pradesh 24-18, Punjab defeated Karnataka 23-17, and Assam secured a narrow 30-29 victory over Delhi in the quarterfinals. The semifinals witnessed Haryana’s 24-22 win over Punjab, while Telangana clinched a 29-24 victory against Assam. The bronze medal match ended in another draw at 23-23, ensuring a joint bronze for Punjab and Assam.
With Haryana’s double gold, the Netball (Fast 5) event concluded on a high note, highlighting the state’s dominance and the rising competition in Indian netball.