Deputy Director Generals Ekta Vishnoi and Shiv Sharma honoured medal winners at the Moscow Wushu Stars Championship on Tuesday at the Sports Authority of India. 17 medals in all were won by the females at the competition held in Russia this month.
The Khelo India Women’s Leagues were place throughout India over the period of a year, and all of these girls participated. In Moscow’s Sanda (fight) and Taolu venues, the girls won 10 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze medals in the junior girls, sub-junior girls, and senior girls divisions.
The Honourable Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur, had earlier tweeted congratulations to the athletes: “It is a matter of pride to see our girls doing us proud and the nation reaping the benefits of the Khelo India Women’s League! Past participants in the Khelo India League, now on the podium with 17 medals at the Moscow Wushu Stars Championship held in Russia!”
The girls beat competitors from Wushu strongholds in China and Indonesia en route to the medals. The participation of the girls, which included SAI NCOE athletes, in the Moscow competition was sanctioned at full cost to the government.
Revered Wushu athlete Pooja Kadian, who is also one of the coaches of the Wushu team, mentioned, “In previous years, the Wushu athletes had to pay Rs 1.5 lakh each to take part in the Moscow Stars Championship. This time it was free because the government sponsored the trip,” the 2018 Arjuna Awardee said.