Sports

KIPG 2025: Sheetal Devi Triumphs Over Payal Nag to Retain Archery Gold Medal

Published

1 year ago

March 24, 2025

Defending champion Sheetal Devi staged a remarkable comeback to secure her second gold medal at the Khelo India Para Games, held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Sunday. Competing against Payal Nag, a quadruple amputee archer from Odisha, Sheetal emerged victorious with a score of 109-103 in the compound archery open final.

The event showcased both seasoned athletes and rising stars, with veteran archers Rakesh Kumar, 40, and Jyoti Baliyan, 30, winning medals alongside the young talents Sheetal, 18, and Payal, 17. In the men’s recurve open final, Jharkhand’s Vijay Sundi defeated Haryana’s Vikas Bhakar with a score of 6-4, while Haryana’s Pooja claimed victory over Maharashtra’s Rajshri Rathod, also 6-4, in the women’s recurve open final.

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The spotlight was on the women’s compound gold medal match. Sheetal started with scores of 8 and 7, while Payal opened strong with two 10s. However, in the third round, Payal faltered with a score of 7, allowing Sheetal to regain her form with consistent scores of 9s and 10s. Ultimately, in the deciding fifth round, Sheetal secured her gold medal at the Khelo India Para Games 2025.

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“Firstly, I want to commend Payal for her outstanding performance in the final. With her hard work, she will definitely earn a medal for India soon. Personally, I am thankful to Mata Rani for the blessings that led me to win my second gold medal at the Khelo India Para Games,” Sheetal expressed in a statement to SAI Media.

The soft-spoken Payal, who exudes youthful innocence, discussed her experience after competing in her first Khelo India Para Games. “Previously, I used to shoot with two devices in my prosthetic legs, but now I’m using just one leg. It was challenging to adjust, but despite the discomfort and windy conditions, I reached the final and am happy to have earned a silver medal,” she shared.

According to her coach, Kuldeep Vedwan, Payal experienced a transformation in para-archery after receiving a new device a month ago. “She is the first female archer globally without all four limbs, and it was a challenge to create an additional device within her prosthetic leg. Now, she shoots arrows using just one leg,” he explained.

“Since the new device was implemented only a month ago, Payal’s journey in para-archery began anew. Her hard work and dedication over the last month truly earned her the silver today,” Kuldeep added.

Payal adopted a philosophical outlook, stating, “The sunny weather, heat, and wind are nothing compared to the struggles and pain we’ve faced in life. We must persevere through it all.”

In the men’s compound open gold medal match, Rajasthan’s Shyam Sundar Swami narrowly defeated Chhattisgarh’s Toman Kumar, winning 140-139. In the bronze medal matches, Rakesh Kumar showcased his renowned consistency by overcoming Haryana’s Parmender 143-140, while Jyoti Baliyan triumphed over Delhi’s Lalpati 136-132.

In the recurve open bronze medal matches, both Dhanna Godara from Rajasthan and Jharkhand’s Sukriti Singh emerged victorious in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively.

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Sports

Bengaluru Police Issue Advisory Ahead of RCB’s IPL 2026 Final

Published

2 weeks ago

May 30, 2026

Namma Kudla

IPL 2026 :Bengaluru police have urged people to celebrate responsibly during and after the IPL 2026 final. RCB will play the final match on Sunday.

Police have banned public celebrations, bike rallies, road blockages, and stunt riding. Bursting crackers and setting up public LED screens without permission are also not allowed.

Authorities have asked people not to drink alcohol in public places or create disturbances. Citizens have also been warned against spreading rumours or posting offensive content on social media.

The advisory comes after a stampede during RCB’s victory celebrations last year, which claimed 11 lives. Police have appealed to fans to maintain peace and cooperate with officials to ensure public safety.

Sports

Tim David Faces Criticism for Obscene Celebration against Mumbai Indians

Published

1 month ago

May 11, 2026

Namma Kudla

IPL 2026 : In a dramatic IPL 2026 clash, Royal Challengers Bengaluru player Tim David has landed in controversy for allegedly making an obscene gesture after his team’s thrilling win against Mumbai Indians.

The incident took place during the 54th match of the Indian Premier League in Raipur. Batting first, Mumbai Indians scored 167 runs in 20 overs and set a competitive target for RCB.

While chasing the target, Royal Challengers Bengaluru needed 15 runs in the final over. The match went down to the last ball, where RCB required two runs for victory. Rasikh Dar helped the team secure a thrilling win in the final delivery.

Soon after the victory, Tim David, who was in the dugout, was seen allegedly showing his middle finger towards the Mumbai Indians camp during the celebrations. The video of the incident quickly went viral on social media and triggered criticism from cricket fans.

Reports suggest that match officials could take disciplinary action against the Australian batter. Under the ICC Code of Conduct, obscene or offensive gestures are considered a serious offence.

Such behaviour usually falls under Level 1 or Level 2 breaches of the ICC rules. Players found guilty can face fines ranging from 50 percent to 100 percent of their match fees. Demerit points may also be added to their disciplinary record. Repeated offences can even lead to suspension from matches.

Similar incidents have happened in the past as well. In 2012, Virat Kohli was fined 50 percent of his match fee for showing the middle finger to spectators during a match in Sydney.

Cricket is widely known as a “gentleman’s game,” and players are expected to maintain discipline and respect on the field. Tim David’s celebration has now sparked debate among fans and experts about sportsmanship in modern cricket.

Sports

Pooran Super over Call Sparks Criticism

Published

2 months ago

April 27, 2026

Namma Kudla

Sports: Lucknow Super Giants’ captain Rishabh Pant faced criticism after a failed Super Over decision against Kolkata Knight Riders. LSG sent Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram to bat, with Pooran on strike against Sunil Narine.

Pooran was bowled on the first ball, leading to heavy criticism from fans. Many questioned the decision, especially because Narine had earlier troubled Pooran in a past Super Over.

LSG coach Justin Langer defended the move. He said the team trusted Pooran as he has faced Narine many times and has a strong record against him. He added that teams must back their best players even in difficult moments.

Langer also said Pooran is one of the best T20 players in recent years but is currently low on confidence. He assured that the team is working hard to help him regain form

Despite being at the bottom of the table, LSG remains hopeful. Langer said the team will use the break to improve and aim to win their remaining matches.