Taniparti Chikita from Telangana wins two gold medals at Asian Archery Tournament
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Aaj Tak
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Taniparti Chikita from Telangana wins two gold medals at Asian Archery Tournament

Archer Taniparti Chikita from Sultanpur village in Peddapally district of Telangana won two gold medals at the Asian Archery Tournament, bringing glory to Telangana and India. Chikita, who comes from a farming family, secured gold medals in both individual and team categories in the compound event.

Despite financial difficulties, her father, Srinivas Rao, did not abandon his daughter. The father has now appealed to the government and philanthropists to continue supporting his daughter.

Chikita's family depends on agriculture. She showed an interest in sports from an early age. Her father, Srinivas Rao, noticed his daughter's talent and decided to promote her in archery. This decision was not easy, as the family's income was limited.

Archery is an expensive sport. Expenses for training, equipment, travel, and participation in various competitions placed a heavy burden on the family. Nevertheless, Srinivas Rao sacrificed a lot so that his daughter's training would not be interrupted. It is reported that the family had to sell property and mortgage land to cover the expenses.

Chikita justified her father's trust through hard work and consistently high results. Initially, she demonstrated brilliant performances at the national level, and then stepped onto the international stage with the goal of winning medals for the country.

At the recent Asian Archery Tournament, Chikita delivered an impressive performance in the compound category. She won gold in the individual event and also secured a gold medal in the team event. Winning in two different disciplines in one tournament is considered a significant achievement for her.

This victory brought a wave of joy to Chikita's family and the residents of Sultanpur village. Srinivas Rao expressed immense happiness that his daughter won two gold medals for the country despite all the difficulties.

Srinivas Rao called on the government and sponsors to continue helping Chikita so that she can reach even greater heights and win more medals for India. Chikita's journey—from an ordinary peasant family to the international level in archery—is seen as an example of how talent, perseverance, and family support can overcome economic obstacles and prepare a champion for the world stage.

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Two brothers from Kerala won a silver medal in rowing at the Asian Games
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Two brothers from Kerala won a silver medal in rowing at the Asian Games

After a flood claimed one of his father's sons, the sea helped him find a new path in life. Prince Kurisinkal Noble from Ernakulam, Kerala, along with his cousin Manu Francis, achieved a historic feat at the Asian Games. They won a silver medal in men's sweep rowing, becoming the first team in Indian history to win a medal in this discipline.

For Noble, this silver medal is not just an athletic achievement; it is connected to painful memories from 2018 when his fisherman father died during a devastating flood in Kerala. The sea was near their home, and Noble's connection to water was deep from childhood, much like his father's. This connection later led him to rowing.

Noble started rowing at the age of 13, in 2009, while in seventh grade. His cousin Manu Francis took up the sport at 14. Both began training in the swamps of Kerala and have been rowing together for about ten years.

Noble noted: 'My father was a fisherman, and our house was very close to the sea. So we had a connection with the sea. That's why it was easy for us to start rowing.'

However, a turning point occurred on this journey that changed Noble's life. During the 2018 flood in Kerala, he lost his father. Today, the Asian Games silver medal is akin to fulfilling an unfulfilled dream for him. He said: 'My father is no longer alive. He died during the Kerala floods in 2018. With this silver medal, I achieved more than my father wanted. After his passing, my mother became my biggest support.'

Noble dedicated this medal to his father, mother, coach, supporters, and the people of the country.

Prince and Manu are not just relatives; they are partners for a decade. Both trained at the Mumbai Yacht Club and won a bronze medal at the Asian Championships in 2023. This long-term collaboration has been their main strength at the Asian Games.

Manu shared his thoughts: 'We are cousins and grew up together. We have been rowing together for the last 10 years. We don't need to talk much. We understand each other and handle bad days easily.'

This was their first participation in the Asian Games, and they immediately won silver. Noble admitted that strong winds affected hopes for gold, but he did not use it as an excuse. He added: 'Winning silver at the Asian Games is very important to us. It could have been gold, but there was the situation with the strong wind. Although it is not an excuse.'

Now, after this silver, their dream is not limited only to medals. Manu wants their success to draw new attention to rowing in India. Their next goal is the National Championship, which will take place in November. However, this Asian Games silver will forever remain the brightest chapter of their story—a story where a flood took away a father, the sea showed the way, and two brothers wrote a story for India on the water.

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