Defying all odds, players of State Archery Academy proved their mettle in 41st Junior National Archery Championship and bagged two silver medals and a bronze medal. Madhya Pradesh archers Sonia Thakur won a silver medal and Amit Kumar won a bronze medal and the duo won a silver medal in mixed category in 41st Junior National Archery Championship held at Dehradun, Uttarakhand. On Saturday, the State Academy Archers were travelling from Delhi to Dehradun in Shatabdi Express and the coach they were in caught fire.

 

The players were rescued safely along with other passengers, however, their luggage and their kit was gutted completely. The players were then provided with new kits and necessary equipments at Dehradun itself. This incident failed to dampen the spirit of the Academy players as they performed brilliantly at the championship held at Dehradun. In girls’ category recurve event of the competition, Academy player Sonia Thakur won a silver silver medal by scoring 642 points. Jharkhand stood first with 661 points and Haryana stood third with 634 points. In boys’ category recurve event, Academy’s Amit Kumar scored 665 points and won bronze medal for the State.

 

Andhra Pradesh stood first with 683 points and Maharashtra with 673 points was third. Similarly, in the recurve mixed team event, duo of players Sonia Thakur and Amit Kumar pair won a silver medal for Madhya Pradesh. Jharkhand stood first and Punjab was third in this event. Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia said that by the grace of God all our players are safe. By winning medals at this championship, players have proved that success can be achieved with patience and restraint even in testing times. The State Sports Minister congratulated medal winners and said that our players have brought glory to Madhya Pradesh. Director, Sports and Youth Welfare, Pawan Jain said that despite all odds, players of Madhya Pradesh State Archery Academy won medals using new equipments, this should act as motivation for other players in the State.

 

 

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has extended best wishes and congratulated Madhya Pradesh archers Sonia Thakur and Amit Kumar for winning two silver and a bronze medal in 41st Junior National Archery Championship held at Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Chief Minister Chouhan said that both the archers of Madhya Pradesh, who had lost their luggage and equipment in the horrific railway accident near Haridwar on their way to the Championship, kept up their spirits and made the State proud by winning one silver and one bronze medal in the national archery competition with new equipment. Despite odds, the success achieved by the players is a matter of pride and happiness not only for Madhya Pradesh but for me also. Both archers have made us proud. It may be noted that both the players are undergoing training at Madhya Pradesh Archery Academy, Jabalpur.