Kolkata, Dec 14: Paris Para-Olympics 2024 Javelin Gold winner Navdeep Singh would want to compete in the next three Olympics and keep winning.
Talking at Beyond the Finish Line organised by Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata, hosted by Dr Boria Majumdar, an accomplished sports historian, Singh said, “Abhi to mein baccha hoon (I am still a kid). I want to participate in the next three Olympics and keep winning for India.”
Talking about his gold in Paris, he said, “At first I knew I had a confirmed Silver. Then the Iranian who I though won Gold got a red card. I won the gold. The first ten minutes I sat with him, hugging him, consoling him. He did not understand English or French. I tried to help him out. Sports is about sportsmanship also. In field we are competitors and off it friends and humans.”
Beyond the Finish Line is a joint initiative by Procam International along with Empowerment Partner GoSports Foundation. The evening was hosted by sports historian and commentator Boria Majumdar. The magnificent event was supported by Title Sponsor Tata Steel-WE ALSO MAKE TOMORROW and Associate Sponsor IDFC FIRST Bank, the Official Production Partner Initium, and Hospitality Partner The LaLiT Great Eastern Kolkata.
At the talk was Jyothi Surekha Vennam, a compound archer who won multiple golds in the compound archery event at the Archery World Cup, World Archery Championships, and Asian Games.
In 2023, she became the first Indian archer to win a gold medal at the World Archery Championships. Talking about her life, she said, “Being consistent is not easy. To keep performing at a certain level. Winning for the nation is a great pride. There are a lot of people around us and a lot of sacrifice.
I want to push the next generation of archers and do something for them. My father is supporting me in that.”
“Everytime I stand on the podium and hear the national anthem I close my eyes. It's a feeling you can't express in words. I wish and hope every athlete in this country experience it at the world stage,” she said.
The third speaker on the evening, Usha Bhandari, Volleyball player from Nepal, talking about her game said, “It was very hard. If there was no support from family I would not be here. I grew up playing with boys. My father was always there for me.”
“When we win, we become like children. I am at the cusp of playing in Europe. It will be the biggest achievement in my life. It will open the doors and volleyball will grow in Nepal. After all, it is our National game in Nepal. "
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