South and Central Provinces Triumph in Tug-of-War at 49th NSF

A moment from the men’s final match

By Susil Premalal

The South and Central Provinces emerged victorious in the men’s and women’s Tug-of-War finals, respectively at the 49th National Sports Festival (NSF), held at the Dadalla Ground in Galle.

The tournament, organised by the Ministry of Sports and the Department of Sports Development, drew top athletes from across the country, with intense competition witnessed in every match. In the men’s final, the South Province overpowered North Central Province to claim the gold medal, showcasing remarkable teamwork and raw strength.

The South Province had earlier defeated Wayamba Province in the semifinals to secure their place in the final. North Central Province had overcome Uva Province to reach the last stage. In the women’s category, Central Province out-muscled Western Province in a gripping final clash to clinch the gold. Their path to victory included a semifinal win against North Central Province, while Western Province had defeated Sabaragamuwa Province to advance to the final.

This year’s Tug-of-War events once again highlighted the growing popularity and competitiveness of the sport across regional teams, especially with several emerging athletes making their mark in a traditionally under-represented discipline.