Asiad winners headed to Goa for Nat’l Games

Panaji: Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha hoped that the country’s best athletes all take part in the National Games. But while that is unlikely to happen, the 37th edition in Goa will have its fair share of stars who won medals at the recently-concluded Asian Games.

On Thursday, before Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially declares the Olympic-style multisports event open, fencer Bhavina Devi will attempt to retain the hat-trick of gold medals she won in Gujarat last year.

The first Indian to represent India in fencing at the Olympics will be the big attraction in her discipline. There are other stars too in high-profile disciplines like shooting, athletics, boxing, table tennis, archery, and rowing.

“It’s extremely encouraging to see athletes giving back to the sport that made them great,” said Games CEO and secretary (sports) Swetika Sachan. “These athletes have risen from national championships and their presence here will act as a big motivation for the others.”

According to a list obtained by TOI, more than 90 athletes from the Union sports ministry’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) have confirmed their participation.

There’s World Cup medallist Rhythm Sangwan, who brought glory to the country when she won a gold in the women’s 25-metre pistol team at the Asian Games.

Sift Kaur Samra (50m 3P, Asiad gold), Mehuli Ghosh (10m Air Rifle, silver at Asiad), Bhowneesh Mendiratta (shooting trap), and Akhil Sheoran (50m 3P) have all qualified for next year’s Paris Olympics, while Saurabh Chaudhary is the Asian Games 10m air pistol record holder.

In athletics, Asiad medallists Jyothi Yarraji (hurdles, silver), Ancy Sojan (long jump, silver), and Tejaswin Shankar (decathlon, bronze) will be among the big attractions. Akshdeep Singh is the Asian Race Walking champion, while Manu DP, one of India’s top-three javelin throwers, will be in search of the Olympics qualification mark.

Satnam Singh, Parminder Singh, Jakar Khan, and Sukhmeet Singh, who were part of the formidable India men’s quadruple sculls team and won bronze at the Asian Games, will lead the charts in rowing.

Having won the silver medal at the Asian Games, Arjun Lal Jat and Arvind Singh (lightweight men’s double sculls) will be high on confidence for their event in Goa.

Archana Kamath (table tennis), Vishnu Saravanan (sailing), Ramkumar Ramanathan (tennis), and Commonwealth Games 2022 wrestling bronze medallist Deepak Nehra are the other impressive names.


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