Paralympic Heroes Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi Honored by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board
Katra (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 16: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) gave a grand welcome to Paralympic archers Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar, who won bronze medals at the Paris Paralympics. The event was held at the SMVD Sports Complex in Katra, with SMVDSB Chairman Manoj Sinha, who is also the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, extending his congratulations.
Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi, who trained at the SMVD Sports Complex, were celebrated for their outstanding performance. Chief Executive Officer of SMVDSB, Anshul Garg, expressed immense pride in their achievements, stating that their success has brought honor not only to Jammu and Kashmir but to the entire nation.
“Their bronze medal win in the Mixed Team Compound Open Archery event has forever engraved their names in the archives of sporting history,” said Anshul Garg. He emphasized that their success is a result of years of dedication, hard work, and the divine blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji.
The CEO also highlighted the Shrine Board’s commitment to promoting sports, particularly Olympic disciplines like shooting, archery, and athletics. He noted that the Board has consistently invested Rs 2.5 to 3 crore annually over the past 8-9 years to develop world-class sports infrastructure and nurture talented athletes.
As a token of appreciation, the CEO presented the medallists with sacred gifts, including a Chunri and other revered offerings of Mata Vaishno Devi.
In singles para-archery, Sheetal Devi set a world record in the ranking round and finished second with 703 points. She later teamed up with Rakesh Kumar in the mixed team compound qualification event, setting another world record with a score of 1,399. The 17-year-old Sheetal became the country’s youngest Paralympic medallist, winning a bronze with Rakesh.
Sheetal and Rakesh secured their bronze medal by defeating Italy’s Eleonora Sarti and Matteo Bonnacina with a score of 156-155. The Indian team concluded its historic Paris Paralympics campaign with a total of 29 medals, including seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze medals, surpassing their previous best at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
A record 84 para-athletes represented India in 12 disciplines at the Paris Paralympics, compared to nine at Tokyo 2020. India also participated in new sports like paracycling, para rowing, and blind judo, establishing several records and achieving new milestones.
Doubts Revealed
Paralympic -: The Paralympics are a major international sports event where athletes with disabilities compete. It’s like the Olympics but for people who have physical or intellectual challenges.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board -: This is an organization that manages the famous Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu and Kashmir, India. They take care of the temple and help pilgrims who visit.
Sheetal Devi -: Sheetal Devi is an athlete who competes in archery. She has a disability but is very talented and won a bronze medal at the Paralympics.
Rakesh Kumar -: Rakesh Kumar is another athlete who competes in archery. Like Sheetal Devi, he has a disability and also won a bronze medal at the Paralympics.
Bronze medals -: A bronze medal is a prize given to the person or team that finishes third in a competition. It’s made of bronze, which is a type of metal.
Paris Paralympics -: This refers to the Paralympic Games that were held in Paris, France. It’s a big event where athletes with disabilities from all over the world compete.
SMVD Sports Complex -: This is a sports facility located in Katra, near the Vaishno Devi temple. It’s a place where people can play and practice different sports.
Manoj Sinha -: Manoj Sinha is a politician and the current Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. He is also the Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
Anshul Garg -: Anshul Garg is the CEO of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. He helps manage the activities and operations of the board.
World records -: A world record is the best performance ever recorded in a particular activity or sport. It means no one in the world has done better.
Tokyo 2020 -: Tokyo 2020 refers to the Paralympic Games that were held in Tokyo, Japan, in the year 2021. They were called Tokyo 2020 because they were originally scheduled for 2020 but got postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
