New Delhi: The fifth day of the Khelo India Para Games (KIPG) 2025 saw the making of two more national records both in powerlifting. Punjab’s Seema Rani registered a record lift of 97 kg in the women’s elite 61 kg category while Jhandu Kumar of Bihar lifted 206 kg in the men’s elite 72kg category.
The Paralympians ruled the roost at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range. Paris 2024 bronze medallist Mona Agarwal struck gold in the Mixed 50m prone SH1 with a score of 243.3. She had already won two silvers in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH 1 and the mixed 10m air rifle prone SH2 categories.
On the penultimate day of para shooting, Rajasthan’s Nihal Singh, who had also qualified for Paris Paralympics, was dominant in the mixed 25m pistol SH1 event, retaining his gold from the first edition of the Khelo India Para Games held in December 2023.
At the time of writing, 160 medals had been decided with Haryana leading the standings with 29 golds. Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan followed with 24 and 22 gold medals, respectively.
The powerlifters have been on song since Sunday. After two records were created by Punjab’s Jaspreet Kaur (45 kg class) and Haryana’s Manish Sharma (54 kg class), Jalandhar’s Seema, who has polio since the age of three, lived up to her billing by winning her second gold in as many Khelo India Para Games. The 39-year-old Seema started her para powerlifting journey five years ago and has since represented India in several international tournaments including the World Championships.
Seema told SAI Media, “It feels great to set up the new national record and win gold medals in back-to-back Khelo India Para Games. I thank SAI for making world-class arrangements for athletes because without them it is difficult to focus and compete well.”
Hailing from Bihar, Jhandu Kumar started his powerlifting journey in 2014. The 28-year-old para lifter has still not made his debut for India but hopes to change that soon. “Khelo India Para Games is a great platform for para athletes. I had won silver earlier in 2023. It feels great to have converted the silver to gold now,” he said.
(IANS)
