Srinagar’s iconic Dal Lake turned into a national arena of grit and glory as the Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025 concluded with resounding success.Held from August 21–23, the event marked India’s first consolidated, open-age competition in kayaking, canoeing, and rowing—featuring 28 states and Union Territories.Madhya Pradesh emerged as the undisputed champion, clinching 10 of the 24 Olympic-category gold medals. Odisha followed with a strong showing—3 golds and 5 silvers—thanks to standout performances from athletes trained at SAI’s Jagatpur Centre, including Rasmita Sahoo and Bidya Devi Oinam.Kerala secured third place with 7 medals, continuing its legacy in water sports. Coaches from all three states hailed the festival as a springboard for international success, with eyes now set on the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 and the Asian Games in Japan.SAI’s High Performance Manager Dalip Beniwal called the festival “an eye-opener,” emphasizing the potential of Indian kayakers and canoeists to match the global elite. With support from schemes like TOPS and TAGG, and the new Khelo Bharat Niti, India’s water sports map is being redrawn—with Dal Lake as its new epicenter.