Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board’s para-archers shines in Asian Para Games

Groomed and trained at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sports Complex, Katra in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, para-archers, Rakesh Kumar, Sheetal Devi and Sarita
have once again created history and made the country and the Union Territory proud by winning five medals at Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China in different categories of Archery events held in the Para Asian Games started on October 22 to 28.

Rakesh and Sheetal Devi put up a good fight in the high-intensity encounter against home favourite China and won the gold medal in compound mixed team.Besides, Rakesh Kumar secured a brilliant silver medal in Men’s Individual Compound Archery event in a closely fought contest against Iran and also alongwith Suraj Singh clinched silver medal in Men's Doubles Compound Open event.

The phenomenal Shrine Para archer, Sheetal Devi delivered a scintillating performance by clinching the coveted gold medal in Women’s Individual Compound Open event defeating Singapore in a nail biting competition. Besides, Sheetal along with Sarita had won silver medal in women's Doubles Compound archery event. Pertinent to mention that it is a hat-trick of medals for Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar in the Para Asian Games.

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has congratulated the Para archers Rakesh Kumar, Sheetal Devi and Sarita on winning the medals at Asian Para Games and making the country proud by posting on X.

“It is a Glorious Gold for our Para Archery Mixed Team. Congrats to Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar for their extraordinary performance. This glory is a testament to their precision, dedication and exceptional skills.” and “Congratulations to our Para Archers, Sheetal Devi and Sarita, for securing a splendid Silver Medal in the Women’s Doubles Compound Event. India celebrates this well-deserved success.”

Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, who is also the Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board congratulated all the sports persons for their performance in the Para Asian Games and making the Board and JK-UT proud by winning five medal out of total seven medals in Archery for Team India and also posted on X.

“A momentous achievement! Congratulations to Sheetal Devi for spectacular Gold Medal victory in the archery Women's Individual Compound Open event.”

Dr. Ashok Bhan, Member, Shrine Board and Chairman of Governing Council of Shrine Board’s Sports Complex also extended his congratulations to all the Para archers representing the country in the Para Asian Games and their excellent performance in the events.

Anshul Garg, CEO, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board while congratulating all the Para archers added that the Shrine Board’s support extended towards sports is being appreciated and it is a matter of pride that players nurtured at SMVD Sports Complex are putting Jammu and Kashmir UT on the world map.

He exuded confidence that given the excellent facilities, expert coaching, hard work and dedication, the sportspersons being trained at the Shrine Board’s Sports Complex will be creating new records in the days to come.

He said that the Shrine Board under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, is committed to encourage the youth and provide them a platform to showcase their talents, as Sports Complex is being developed as a centre of excellence and impressed upon the sportspersons to take optimum benefit from the state-of-the-art equipments and other facilities made available at the Sports Complex.

Notably, SMVD Sports Complex is nurturing budding Sportspersons in Archery, Shooting and Athletics through grant of monthly scholarship of more than rupees one Lakh as per Sports-Core Policy with an aim to create an ecosystem and promotion of excellence in SMVDSB Sports Complex.(UNI)<>