Services wins Raja Bhalindra Singh Trophy of the 38th National Games

The Services Sports Control Board finished the 38th Summer National Games with 121 medals - 68 gold, 26 silvers, and 27 bronze- to top the medal tally and win the Raja Bhalindra Singh Trophy. 

It was the fifth Raja Bhalindra Singh Trophy for the Services team.

At the last 37th Summer National Games 2023, held in Goa, Maharashtra, topped the medal tally and was awarded the Raja Bhalindra Singh Trophy.

Uttarakhand hosted the 38th Summer National Games across 12 cities of the state from 28 January to 14 February 2025.

The National Games is organised by the Indian Olympic Association and hosted by a State/Union Territory government.

Opening and Closing ceremony 

• The opening ceremony of the National Games was held at Dehradun, Uttarakhand, on 28 January 2025. The Games were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The closing ceremony of the Game was held at the International Sports Complex, Haldwani, Uttarakhand, on 14th February 2025. Union Home Minister and Minister for Cooperation Amit Shah was the chief guest of the closing ceremony.  
• Meghalaya was officially handed the National Games flag during the closing ceremony of the 38th Summer National Games.

Meghalaya to host the 39th Summer Games in 2027

• The Indian Olympic Association has chosen Meghalaya to host the next edition of the Summer National Games in February/March 2027.
• It will be the first time that Meghalaya will host the National Games.
• Amongst the North-Eastern States, Manipur hosted the 30th National Games in 1999, and Assam hosted the 33rd edition in 2007.

Mascot, Sports, and Medal 

The Mascot of the 38th National Games was Mauli. Mauli is a bird, Monal, which is a state bird of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

Sports- At the 38th National Games, initially, mallakhamb and yogasana were announced as demonstration sports but were later upgraded to medal sports.

Two sports - Kalarippayattu and Rafting were the demonstration sports in which no medals were given to the participants.

Thus, at the 38th National Games, there were 35 sports-,33 sports medal sports, and two non-medal sports.

Medals- A total of 1523 - 457 golds, 455 silver, and 611 bronze medals were at stake at the Games in 33 sports.

Participants - Athletes from 28 states, eight Union Territories, and the Services Sports Control Board competed for the 1523 medals at the 38th National Games.

5th Raja Bhalendra Singh Singh Trophy for Services 

The team that wins the most gold medals in a Summer National Games is given the Raja Bhalendra Singh Singh Trophy. 

Service Sports Control Board, which comprises sportspersons from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force, has won the Raja Bhalendra Singh Trophy five times -2007, 2011, 2015,2022, and 2025.

Last year, the winner, Maharashtra, finished the 38th National Games with 198 medals and 54 gold medals.

Given below is the final medal tally at the end of the 38th Summer National Games.

Also Read: Narendra Modi Inaugurates 38th National Games in Dehradun, Uttarakhand