Latest news with #AsianParaGames
India Today
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- India Today
Paralympian Sheetal Devi starts driving using her feet, stunning clip goes viral
Sheetal Devi drives a car with just her feet. (Image: Screengrab - Instagram/@sheetal_archery) Sheetal Devi was seen driving a car with just her feet She is the youngest para-athlete to win a medal at the Paralympics She won a bronze at the Paris Paralympics in the compound mixed-doubles event India's Paralympic star, Sheetal Devi, continues to defy the odds and push the limits. The athlete was seen driving a car using just her feet. In the video clip shared on her Instagram handle, the star para-athlete was seen on multiple instances confidently driving the vehicle. She is seen using her right foot to steer the vehicle while the left foot is used to accelerate/brake. "Took on the driver's seat for a while, loving every moment of it.?? Never say NEVER," the video was captioned as saying. Coincidentally, the vehicle she seems to be driving is a Mahindra. It should be noted that she had been gifted a Thar by Anand Mahindra himself after winning multiple Gold medals for India at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou. "I will never, EVER again complain about petty problems in my life. Sheeta Devi, you are a teacher to us all. Please pick any car from our range & we will award it to you & customise it for your use," Anand Mahindra had tweeted. The star athlete grabbed the spotlight with her outstanding performances at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Competing in the mixed compound archery team event alongside Rakesh Kumar, the duo clinched a bronze medal for India. She also came agonisingly close to winning gold in the individual event, but was narrowly defeated by Chile's Marina Zuniga. Despite the result, the Indian para-athlete delivered a valiant performance that made the entire nation proud. At just 17 years old, she became the youngest Indian Paralympian to win a medal, earning nationwide acclaim and even the admiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who personally congratulated her on her achievement. Later, when the Prime Minister invited the para-athletes to his residence in New Delhi, she gifted him a signed jersey as a token of gratitude. Born in 2007 with phocomelia â€' a rare congenital disorder that led to the underdevelopment of her arms â€' she never let her condition define her. Determined to pursue her passion, she trained alongside able-bodied archers during her academy days, mastering an unorthodox technique in which she uses the right side of her body to shoot arrows with remarkable precision. India's Paralympic star, Sheetal Devi, continues to defy the odds and push the limits. The athlete was seen driving a car using just her feet. In the video clip shared on her Instagram handle, the star para-athlete was seen on multiple instances confidently driving the vehicle. She is seen using her right foot to steer the vehicle while the left foot is used to accelerate/brake. "Took on the driver's seat for a while, loving every moment of it.?? Never say NEVER," the video was captioned as saying. Coincidentally, the vehicle she seems to be driving is a Mahindra. It should be noted that she had been gifted a Thar by Anand Mahindra himself after winning multiple Gold medals for India at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou. "I will never, EVER again complain about petty problems in my life. Sheeta Devi, you are a teacher to us all. Please pick any car from our range & we will award it to you & customise it for your use," Anand Mahindra had tweeted. The star athlete grabbed the spotlight with her outstanding performances at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Competing in the mixed compound archery team event alongside Rakesh Kumar, the duo clinched a bronze medal for India. She also came agonisingly close to winning gold in the individual event, but was narrowly defeated by Chile's Marina Zuniga. Despite the result, the Indian para-athlete delivered a valiant performance that made the entire nation proud. At just 17 years old, she became the youngest Indian Paralympian to win a medal, earning nationwide acclaim and even the admiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who personally congratulated her on her achievement. Later, when the Prime Minister invited the para-athletes to his residence in New Delhi, she gifted him a signed jersey as a token of gratitude. Born in 2007 with phocomelia â€' a rare congenital disorder that led to the underdevelopment of her arms â€' she never let her condition define her. Determined to pursue her passion, she trained alongside able-bodied archers during her academy days, mastering an unorthodox technique in which she uses the right side of her body to shoot arrows with remarkable precision. Join our WhatsApp Channel
Straits Times
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Singapore's Nurulasyiqah Mohd Taha wins bronze at World Boccia Cup
Nurulasyiqah Mohd Taha (bottom) and her ramp operator and athlete competition partner Nur Azizah at the World Boccia Cup in Beijing. PHOTO: SINGAPORE DISABILITY SPORTS COUNCIL SINGAPORE - In her 21-year sporting career, Nurulasyiqah Mohd Taha has competed in two Paralympic Games and won medals at the Asian Para Games and Asia and South Pacific Boccia Championships, but individual honours at the World Cup proved elusive. That finally changed on June 12, when the 39-year-old, who has spinal muscular atrophy, clinched the bronze medal in the BC3 Individual event at the Beijing 2025 World Boccia Cup. Nurulasyiqah, who beat four higher-ranked opponents enroute to her medal, said in a statement: 'I'm incredibly grateful to my ramp operator and athlete competition partner, Nur Azizah, who has been training with me patiently since 2017. This bronze medal is as much hers as it is mine. 'I haven't had much time to fully process the win, as we had to gear up for our first BC3 Pairs match just a few hours after the individual bronze medal match. Once we return from this tournament, our focus will be on sustaining the skills and momentum we've built.' Ranked 24th in the world, Nurulasyiqah kicked off her campaign in China with a narrow 4-4 tie break loss to world No. 4 Sonia Heckel, before bouncing back with a 6-1 win over Evani Calado (No. 5) of Brazil to secure a knockout berth. In the quarter-finals, she beat Australia's world No. 6 and Paris Paralympics silver medallist Jamieson Leeson 5-3 to advance to the top four. Despite losing 5-1 to South Korea's Paralympics bronze medalist Kang Sun-hee (No. 3) in the semi-finals , she fought back to earn a spot on the podium. Up against Paralympics gold medalist Ho Yuen Kei of Hong Kong in the third-place play-off, the Singaporean upset her top-ranked rival 5-2 to claim a hard-earned bronze . Kang eventually took home the gold, while Japan's Ayane Ichinoe claimed the silver. The bronze medal in Beijing marks Nurulasyiqah's comeback to international competitions after a three-year absence due to Covid-19 restrictions. In 2024, she won gold at the Pajulahti World Boccia Challenger in Finland, before clinching the World Cup Pairs bronze at the New Taipei City World Boccia Cup with Aloysius Gan – a first for Singapore at the event. (From left) South Korea's Kang Sun-hee, Japan's Ayane Ichinoe and Singapore's Nurulasyiqah Mohd Taha on the podium. PHOTO: SINGAPORE DISABILITY SPORTS COUNCIL Gan, 18, missed out on a podium finish in the BC3 male individual event after losing 5-2 to Frenchman Jules Menard in the third-place play-off. The duo will next feature in the BC3 pairs semi-finals against Brazil on June 14. (From left) Eve Cher, Aloysius Gan's athlete competition partner; Aloysius Gan; Nur Azizah, Nurulasyiqah's athlete competition partner; Nurulasyiqah Mohd Taha; and Gan Keng Aik, Aloysius Gan's coach at the World Boccia Cup in Beijing. PHOTO: SINGAPORE DISABILITY SPORTS COUNCIL Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hindustan Times
12-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan: Paralympian Rakesh Kumar appointed as brand ambassador in Reasi district
Reasi district administration on Wednesday appointed Paralympian para-archer Rakesh Kumar as brand ambassador for Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan. Reasi deputy commissioner Nidhi Malik designated Paralympian para archer and Arjuna awardee Rakesh Kumar as the brand ambassador for the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan from Reasi district, said an official spokesperson. This initiative aims to harness the inspirational journey of Rakesh Kumar — an international athlete who hails from Reasi— and has brought immense pride to the nation through his achievements despite physical challenges, the spokesperson said, adding that his appointment is expected to encourage youth to pursue sports and healthy lifestyles while staying away from substance abuse, he said. After a spinal injury in 2010 confined Kumar to a wheelchair, he took up archery in 2017 and rapidly rose through the ranks. He won gold at the 2022 Asian Para Games and the 2023 World Para Archery Championships, and represented India at the Tokyo Paralympics. In 2024, he made history by winning a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics—J&K's first-ever Olympic medal. For his achievements, he was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2025. Nidhi Malik emphasised the importance of role models in shaping young minds and stated that Rakesh Kumar's life is a powerful message of resilience, discipline, and determination. She further noted that the district administration, in collaboration with the Reasi social welfare department, headed by DSWO Sachin Sharma, is committed to intensifying awareness campaigns, community engagement, and outreach programs as part of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (Drug-Free India Campaign). The 26-day-long campaign, which began on June 1, will continue until June 26, covering various parts of the district. Speaking on the occasion, Rakesh Kumar expressed his gratitude for the honour and pledged his full support to the cause.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Gallery of fame at Mahamaya stadium to honour athletes from Ghaziabad
Ghaziabad: A 'gallery of fame' featuring Ghaziabad's top-performing athletes is set to come up at the Mahamaya Sports Stadium as part of a district-level initiative to promote sports and motivate budding players. District magistrate Deepak Meena has directed the sports department to set up the gallery and also replace cash awards for athletes with customised sports equipment to support their long-term development. District sports officer Poonam Bishnoi said that the gallery will be prominently located at the entrance of the stadium. "It will be the first thing athletes see when they enter the stadium. The idea is to greet every player with stories of excellence and perseverance that have emerged from our own district. It will include framed portraits, brief biographies, and highlights of achievements of athletes who made Ghaziabad proud at national and international levels," Bishnoi said. Among those set to be featured here is Simran Sharma, a visually-impaired para athlete who won a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics 2024 and was conferred the Arjuna Award the same year. Also to be featured are Lakshay Phogat, who clinched a silver medal at the Asian U-15 Boxing Championships in Jordan this April, and javelin thrower Pradeep Yadav of Modinagar, who bagged a silver at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like O novo dispositivo que os idosos usam para ajudar na neuropatia (dor nos nervos) A arte do herbalismo Undo Yadav, who has a motor disability, also received the Uttar Pradesh Laxman Award earlier this year. "I am extremely honoured to be part of the gallery. It's a proud moment and I hope it encourages more para athletes to aim high," he told TOI. The gallery's construction is part of a larger renovation plan for the stadium. TOI earlier reported that the state govt allocated Rs 16 crore for the stadium's overhaul in the last financial year. A detailed project report was prepared, tenders were awarded, and renovation work is set to begin soon. In a significant policy shift, the DM also said that, instead of cash prizes ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000, athletes will now receive high-quality equipment suited to their discipline. "For instance, a badminton player might receive a professional-grade racket set. This will help them train more effectively," said Bishnoi.
NDTV
15-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
D Gukesh To Ananya Panday: India's Brightest On Forbes 30 Under 30 2025
New Delhi: Forbes has released its 10th annual ' 30 Under 30 Asia ' list, spotlighting the region's most promising young entrepreneurs, leaders, and changemakers, all under the age of 30. The Class of 2025 is distinctly tech-driven, with artificial intelligence playing a major role in how these individuals are shaping the future. This year, the list of 300 individuals spans across 10 key categories, including AI, Consumer & Enterprise Tech, Finance, Social Impact, Retail and Ecommerce, and The Arts. India dominated the list with 94 honorees, the most from any country in the Asia-Pacific region. Among the standout names this year are chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju, Bollywood actor Ananya Panday and sustainable fashion entrepreneur Jinali Mody. Here are some of the Indian changemakers who made it to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2025 list: Sheetal Devi, 17, Paralympian: The world's first armless archer to win gold at the Asian Para Games. Gukesh Dommaraju, 18, Chess Grandmaster: Reigning World Chess Champion and the youngest Indian to beat world champion Magnus Carlsen. Anuv Jain, 29, Singer-Songwriter: Known for hits like Husn and Baarishein. Ishaan Khatter, 29, Actor: A versatile performer gaining international acclaim. He is known for performances in films like Beyond the Clouds (2017) and Dhadak (2018). Ananya Panday, 26, Actress and Chanel Brand Ambassador: Bollywood star and the first Indian face of Chanel. Anshita Mehrotra, 25, Founder, Fix My Curls: Pioneering curly hair care products tailored for Indian hair types. Jinali Mody, Founder, Banofi Leather: Turning banana crop waste into sustainable leather alternatives. Mukul Chhabra, 27, Founder, ScrapUncle: Enabling doorstep scrap collection with a tech-first model. Krishna Gupta, 27, Cofounder, AamDhanE: Making rural India financially literate and investment-ready. Vaibhav Kaushik, 27, Cofounder, Nawgati Tech: Reducing fuel pump wait times using AI. Karttikeya Mangalam, 28, Cofounder, Helping factories monitor machine health with AI. Kshitiz Sanghi, 29, Cofounder, Voosh: Streamlining cloud kitchens with automation. Manu Chopra, 29, Cofounder, Karya: Collecting AI training data ethically from rural India. Hunny Bhagchandani, 29, Founder, Torchit: Affordable assistive tech for the visually impaired. Arghya Bhattacharya, 26, Cofounder, Adalat AI: Building AI tools to simplify India's complex legal system. Manu Nair and Prashant Sharma, Cofounders, Ethereal Exploration Guild: India's spacetech duo working on affordable space exploration. Following India, Australia had 32 honorees on the list, while China featured 30, Japan 25, and South Korea 23. Singapore and Indonesia each had 19 entries.
