Lucknow, Feb 28(.) Ranking events and opening ceremony of the ‘4th NTPC Khelo India National Ranking for Women Archery Tournament’ took place at the city’s KD Singh Babu stadium here on Saturday.
Arrival and practice sessions started on Friday, while the ranking events took place on Saturday, elimination rounds will take place on March 1 while the finals will be played on March 2.
The competition is organised by the Uttar Pradesh Archery Federation, under the leadership of Chairperson of the Federation Avnish Kumar Awasthi, and a total of 266 women archers are participating in the event.
Chief guests Minister of Women’s Welfare, Child Development and Nutrition Baby Rani Maurya, Para Olympians Suhas LY, and Harvinder Singh inaugurated the event today.
Speaking on the occasion, Harvinder Singh spoke about his journey as an archer and stressed on the need for establishing a ‘Center of excellence in archery’ in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Suhas LY spoke about the heightened focus that is required in Archery and also about the state’s sports policy.
Minister Baby Rani Maurya spoke about India’s long and proud history in archery and asked the players to take inspiration from Lord Sri Ram and Arjuna. Describing archery as an excellent sport that builds concentration and focus in a person she asked the players to make Rani Lakshmi Bai their idol.
Speaking to ., Olympian and Dhyanchand Awardee archer Satyadev Prasad who is associated with the event as an organiser praised armless Para archer Sheetal Devi’s performance today
“the Khelo games have become a very important part of India’s sporting calendar, providing a stage for the athletes to learn and shine. Today we saw armless Sheetal leading in the junior category, the fact that she is leading even among able bodied athletes is amazing we may see her compete in the able bodied category in the future.”
J&K’s Sheetal Devi claimed bronze in the compound mixed team event with Rakesh Kumar at the Paris Para Olympics in 2024, by doing so she became India’s youngest Paralympic medallist at 17 and only the second armless archer in history to win a Paralympic medal.
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