Poonch, Aug 13: The 2nd National Gateball Championship 2026 concluded successfully at BSF Ground, Rajpura Mandi Mandir, Poonch (J&K), with enthusiastic participation of players representing 18 States and Union Territories, including Jammu & Kashmir.

Shri Binner Paul, Commanding Officer, 53 BN BSF, Mandi Mandir, Poonch, was the Chief Guest at the closing ceremony. Shri Shardeshwar, Vice President, Indian Gateball Union (IGU); Shri Ranjan Kumar Patra, General Secretary, IGU; Shri Rajinder Singh, Zonal Physical Education Officer (ZPEO), Mandi; Ms. Dhania Sharma, Physical Educator; and Shri Sahil Ali Beigh, Secretary, J&K Gateball Union, were present as Guests of Honour.
On the occasion, the Chief Guest presented medals, mementos and trophies to the winning and runner-up teams. He also felicitated the heads and representatives of all participating States and Union Territories in recognition of their valuable contribution towards the successful conduct of the championship.
In the final, Team Odisha emerged as the champions, defeating Team Chandigarh, which secured the runners-up position. Team Bihar secured third place, while BSF finished fourth.
The championship was organized by the District Poonch Gateball Union under the aegis of the J&K Gateball Union, in collaboration with the Indian Gateball Union (IGU) and 53 BN BSF, Mandi Mandir, Poonch (J&K).
The successful organization of the national championship was widely appreciated by participating teams, officials and sports enthusiasts. The event provided an important platform for bringing together Gateball players from across the country and contributed significantly towards the promotion and development of the sport, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir.
The organizers expressed their gratitude to all participating teams, officials, volunteers and supporting agencies for their cooperation and contribution in making the 2nd National Gateball Championship 2026 a successful national sporting event.