Kavin, Aadithya, and Aakansha Excel at Khelo India Para Games

New Delhi, April 3 (NationPress) Three exceptional shooters - Kavin Kengnalkar, Aadithya Giri, and Aakansha - showcased their extraordinary talents at the Khelo India Para Games 2025. This event was held last month in New Delhi, with shooting competitions taking place at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range from March 21-25.

Kavin Kengnalkar and Aadithya Giri exhibited remarkable prowess in the R1 10m Air Rifle Standing Men SH1 event, earning silver and bronze medals respectively. In addition, Aakansha secured a bronze medal in the R2 10m Air Rifle Women Standing category, further enhancing her accolades.

Aadithya Giri, a 25-year-old athlete from Chennai, has faced the challenges of Spina Bifida since birth and underwent surgery on the day of his birth.

Reflecting on his experience and the influence of Para Project Leap, Aadithya stated, "My journey with the Gun for Glory Academy and Para Project Leap has been transformative. This initiative has offered me everything from training to personal development. It’s a fantastic program for para athletes, inspiring us to excel. My idol, Gagan Narang, is a remarkable mentor for all shooters, not just para athletes."

He praised the Khelo India initiative, emphasizing its role in enhancing athlete visibility: “The Khelo India Para Games is a significant step towards fostering inclusivity in Indian sports. It has given us a platform to compete alongside both established and emerging athletes, allowing us to learn and refine our skills.”

Aakansha, hailing from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, experienced a life-altering event when she lost her left leg above the thigh in a train accident in 2008. Determined to reshape her life, she turned to sports, taking up shooting in 2016.

On the profound support from Para Project Leap, the 29-year-old noted, "This initiative has been crucial in my journey, providing top-notch coaching, training with international specialists, and access to sports psychologists to bolster our mental resilience. The impact of this experience has been truly life-changing."

"The Khelo India Para Games 2025 was an exceptional event, extremely well-organized, giving us the opportunity to display our talents on such a remarkable stage. Being surrounded by seasoned players allowed us to learn from them. It was an amazing experience, and we are grateful to the government for launching this tournament," she remarked about her time at the KIPG.

Both athletes are participants in the fully sponsored Para Project Leap, initiated by the Gagan Narang Sports Promotion Foundation (GNSPF) in collaboration with Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) in 2022, aiming to discover, nurture, and empower para-shooting athletes in India by providing world-class training facilities with international coaching and sports science support.

This project exemplifies the foundation’s commitment to promoting inclusion and achieving excellence in sports. With the guidance of top-level coaching and innovative training techniques, the project has seen remarkable success, highlighted by an outstanding performance at the 5th National Para Shooting Championship.

Gagan Narang, an Olympic bronze medalist and founder of the Gagan Narang Sports Foundation, expressed his pride in the athletes' accomplishments. He remarked, "Our vision for Para Project Leap was to provide para shooters with elite training and resources, allowing them to compete at the highest levels. Witnessing Kavin, Aadithya, and Aakansha excel on such a prestigious platform validates their commitment and the success of this initiative. We are dedicated to nurturing talent and expanding the horizons of excellence in para sports."