Wrestler Shivani wins gold & hearts at National Games

Bhopal: Footballer-turned-wrestler Shivani Pawar not only won the gold medal but also the hearts of the spectators for displaying sporting spirit by helping her opponent after she sustained an injury, at the 36th National Games on Saturday.
In the women's 50 kg category, Pawar played against Ankush. During the bout, Ankush sustained injuries on her leg.Pawar immediately helped her to bring her out of the mat area even after she herself was in a high pain. Later, Shivani told the media that she was in pain and in need of help. “She could not stand due to an injury. I helped her as a sportsman one should always help whenever such incidents happen,” said Shivani.
Pawar was drawn to football and athletics in her school days. She studied at Pandit Vishambhar Nath High School, Umreth. Her coach encouraged her to pursue football. Pawar, incidentally, loved the game and made it to the state-level championship in her first appearance with the school football team.
Former wrestling champion Fatima Bano spotted her in a tournament held at Chhindwara and felt that she had the ability to become a top wrestler. Bano was the one who enrolled her in the MP state academy. Pawar, then, moved to join the MP academy in Bhopal to learn the basics of wrestling.
Meanwhile, in shooting, Shreya Agarwal and Aishwary Pratap Tomar won a silver in the Air Rifle Mixed Event for the state. The MP athletics women's team won a bronze medal in the 400 m relay. Twinkle Pundir, Indu Prasad, Himani Chandel and V Kumari completed the distance in 46.03 seconds.