KIPG 2025: First-time competitors Alphia James, Mandeep shine as Paralympians excel
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Synopsis
The Khelo India Para Games 2025 saw remarkable performances from India's Paralympians and new competitors like Alphia James and Mandeep Kaur, who both won gold in badminton. The event showcased the strength and determination of athletes at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, with exciting competitions across various sports.
Key Takeaways
- Alphia James and Mandeep Kaur excelled in badminton, securing golds.
- India's Paralympians displayed impressive skills throughout the Games.
- Tamil Nadu leads the medal tally with 15 golds.
- Exciting competitions in archery and shooting commenced.
- The event fosters inclusivity and showcases athletic talent.
New Delhi, March 22 (NationPress) India's Paralympians and international stars showcased their prowess at the Khelo India Para Games 2025, but the event also highlighted remarkable performances from gold medallists as the badminton tournament concluded at the Indira Gandhi Stadium on Day 3 of the Games on Saturday.
As of this report, 75 gold medals in athletics, badminton, and shooting have been awarded. Tamil Nadu is currently leading the medal tally with 15 golds, followed closely by Haryana with 14. Maharashtra holds third place with eight gold medals, while both Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have secured seven golds each.
During the first half of Saturday, badminton took center stage. India's elite para-badminton players delivered impressive performances across their categories. Paris 2024 gold medallist Nitesh Kumar, Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Krishna Nagar, Paris 2024 bronze medallist Manisha Ramdass, and 13-time national champion Sanjeev Kumar all emerged victorious.
However, it was Kerala's 21-year-old wheelchair-bound Alphia James and Uttarakhand’s Mandeep Kaur who captured the spotlight on the badminton courts, each clinching a gold in their respective categories. A BCom student, Alphia faced personal tragedy in 2010 with the loss of her father, supported by her mother and brother since then.
Initially a basketball player, Alphia suffered a spinal cord injury in 2017. After nearly five years, she returned to sports, embracing para-badminton. She made a golden debut at the Khelo India Para Games 2025 in Delhi, following a recent victory in Spain.
Meanwhile, Mandeep, a three-time arm-wrestling national champion, transitioned to badminton driven by her passion for the sport, achieving great success. After winning gold in her inaugural international tournament in Uganda, the 29-year-old realized her dream debut at the Khelo India Para Games.
“Winning gold feels amazing, and I'm grateful to SAI and the government for organizing KIPG. Staying calm was crucial for me; I lost the first game and was behind in the second, but I persevered and made a comeback to win,” Mandeep expressed after her triumph.
Star player Nitesh Kumar remarked, "I'm really pleased with my gold win. This is my first time participating in KIPG, and winning the tournament is fantastic. It's a positive start to the season, and I aim for continued success."
The third day of the Khelo India Para Games also marked the beginning of the archery competition at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The 2024 Paris Paralympics bronze medallist Sheetal Devi and promising newcomer Payal Nag competed. In a remarkable encounter, two wonder archers, one without arms (Sheetal) and another without arms and legs (Payal), displayed stunning visuals as they both qualified for the finals on Sunday.
Meanwhile, shooting commenced at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range, where Paralympic gold medallist Avani Lekhara maintained her dominance in the women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 category, securing first place. Rajasthan's Mona Agarwal claimed silver, while Aakansha from Uttar Pradesh rounded out the podium with a score of 221.5.
This success unfolded amid strong performances in other shooting events, with Maharashtra's Swaroop Mahavir Unhalkar and Kavin Vinod Kengnalkar winning gold and silver, respectively, in the men's 10m air rifle standing SH1, separated by a mere 0.1 points. Additionally, Haryana's Simran Sharma topped the podium in the mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2 category.
