Shrine committee warmly welcomes Paralympic bronze medalist

The dynamic duo Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi, who were nurtured and trained at the SMVD Sports Centre, have won honours for the nation with their outstanding performances. In recognition of their outstanding achievements, the Shrine Committee felicitated them at a ceremony held at the SMVD Sports Centre in Katra.

SMVDSB CEO Anshul Garg congratulated Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar for their extraordinary achievement at the Paris Paralympics and expressed immense pride in the success of these disabled archers from the holy land, whose success has brought honour not only to Jammu and Kashmir but also to the entire country.

The CEO said that Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar won bronze medals in the Mixed Team Compound Archery Open event, cementing their status as pioneer Olympic medallists from Jammu and Kashmir and etched their names forever in the annals of sports history.

He stressed that success in sports is not achieved overnight but is the result of years of dedication, hard work and perseverance and the achievements of these medal winners are a testament to their unwavering dedication, guidance of their coaches and most importantly, the divine blessings of Mata Vaishno Devji.

He added that their success has inspired budding athletes and created new sports icons, giving a new impetus to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sports Centre.

The CEO reiterated the Shrine Board’s commitment to promoting various sports, especially Olympic sports such as shooting, archery and athletics to help athletes excel and bring glory to the country.

He stressed that the board has been continuously investing Rs 2.5-3 crore every year for the past 8-9 years in building world-class sports infrastructure and training elite athletes and has achieved impressive results in the international arena.

He highlighted the success of two world-class archers, Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi, who have made achievements across the globe.

As a token of blessings and gratitude, the CEO presented divine gifts including Chunri and other noble offerings of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji to the awardees.

Pioneering Para-archer Sheetal Devi has overcome enormous health challenges to revolutionize the sport with her innovative foot-shooting technique. Since her debut in 2019, she has already won an impressive string of accolades, including two golds and a silver at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, a silver at the 2023 World Archery Para Championships in the Czech Republic, which earned her a spot at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, and being named world number one in women’s compound archery.

Her remarkable journey so far is a testament to her unwavering determination and unrelenting passion for the sport.