One-handed magician

 

Archer Shweta targets Paralympics

n By Paritosh Pramanik

RAIPUR, Apr 2

GADCHIROLI’S para archer Shweta Bhaskar Kove’s story isn’t just about finishing on podiums. It’s about breaking barriers, challenging limitations, and inspiring a generation of women to believe that nothing is impossible if there is a will to excel in life and sports.

Born with only one hand (right hand developed only till elbow), the 19-year-old Maharashtra archer has achieved what most of the able-bodied archers couldn’t dream off. She has clinched several medals — gold, silver, bronze — for her State and has represented the country in Asian Championship as well. And she yearns for more success at international level. Her ultimate dream is to represent India in Paralympics.

Participating with able-bodied archers here at the Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) in Raipur, Shweta and her team missed the bronze medal in compound event but she is not disheartened. Instead, she has started training for her next trials for an international event which will be held in coming months.

Born in a farm labourers family, Shweta lost her father Bhaskar a few years ago. Her mother, Manjusha, works on a farm to make ends meet. Her younger brother, Snehal, who is also a State-level archer, took up the sport looking at the success of Shweta.

But archery was not the first love for Shweta. She took up gun shooting initially and even moved to the top four-bracket at national level. However, “partiality” forced her to replace bullets with arrows.

“I used to do gun shooting in Jaripatka, Nagpur. But due to partiality I had to look away from shooting. My coach Shashank sir asked me to take up archery and I went to Buldhana under the tutelage of coach Chandrakant Ilag. He invented the releaser for me with which I can release the arrow with the help of my neck,” a pint-sized Shweta told ‘The Hitavada’ beside the archery range at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Hockey Stadium Complex, on Thursday.

Being a gun shooter, Shweta had lesser difficulty in lifting the bow. But the equipment is quite heavy and the 19-year-old had to develop strength in her bow lifting left hand. She used to lift dumbbell for hours to develop strength. “It’s painful but to achieve success, one has to bear pain,” Shweta stated.

With a lean body frame it is very difficult for the Gadchiroli girl to train for long hours. Her shoulder aches, back breaks, but her determination keeps her going.

“I train for 7 to 8 hours in two sessions daily. It is painful. The shoulder breaks and the back gives up. I could not stand and needed a massage to relieve back pain. But I am not complaining,” the 1st Year BA student of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule College and a silver medallist at Jaipur Nationals (2024-25), said.

Shweta, who represented India at the Asian Youth Para Championship in Dubai earlier this year, had to suffer another ordeal immediately after returning from the Gulf nation.

“Due to the Indigo fiasco earlier this year, my flights to Nagpur were cancelled. I was stranded in New Delhi and after a couple of days, I got a train ticket. But my reservation was from Bhopal and I had to travel standing. It was only after the TTE recognised me and gave me a seat,” narrated Shweta.

The ‘one-handed magician’ wants support from the Government as it is financially very taxing to continue performing with the meager funds.

“A top quality bow costs around Rs 10 lakh. I am practicing with equipment which costs Rs 4 lakh. Lloyds Metals financially assisted me and gave Rs 1 lakh at the hands of CM Devendra Fadnavis recently which I used to purchase this equipment. But I need funds to purchase good equipment. With good equipment my performance can improve manifold,” she said with confidence. “I wish to represent India at the Paralympics and I will train hard to achieve my ultimate dream,” she confidently declared.

--------------------

After powerlifting and arm-wrestling, Debi finds peace in wrestling

WINS SILVER MEDAL IN KITG

n Special Correspondent

RAIPUR, Apr 2

SHE started her sporting journey with powerlifting but then shifted to arm-wrestling. With strength in her arms and wrists, Khelo India Centre wrestling coach Anustup Narah asked her to take up wrestling. And as they say, the rest is history.

The story of Assam wrestler Debi Daimiri’s is of willpower, determination and search of 

satisfaction.

She found the satisfaction she needed in wrestling and is now collecting medals at various wrestling events.

The 28-year-old Debi clinched the silver medal in the women’s 62kg category at the Khelo India Tribal Games here, in Raipur on Thursday.

Though she could not grab the gold medal, Debi is satisfied with finishing on the podium.

“This medal is the result of my hard work and I will train harder to change the colour of my medal next season,” Debi said on Thursday.

Hailing from Dineshpur village in Sisupani, Golaghat district of Assam, Debi lost her parents when she was seven years old. Her uncle and aunt took care of her from that tender age and also supported her in fulfilling her sporting dreams.

Recalling her journey, Debi said, “I started wrestling in 2022 at Khelo India Centre in Bokakhat near Kaziranga. I had to rent a room nearby and for that I took up a part-time job.

To make ends meet and fund her training Debi had to do odd jobs.

“In the same year, I worked at a mall (Easy Bazaar store) in Bokakhat where I earned of Rs 2500 per month. I kept on changing jobs in search of better financial returns. In 2023, I got a swimming pool cleaning job at Bon Villa Resort in Kaziranga where I earned around Rs 7000 per month,” said the wrestler.

Before stepping on the wrestling mat, Debi was involved in powerlifting and arm-wrestling. In 2022, she met Assam team coach Narah, under whose guidance she learned the nuances of wrestling.

For better training, Narah adviced Debi to rent a room near the training centre. He also helped her get a job through the district wrestling association and arranged a bicycle for her.

In the same year, Debi qualified for the Senior State Wrestling Championships held in Visakhapatnam and two years later (2024), she went on to clinch her maiden yellow metal at State meet.

The 28-year-old wrestler got married in 2025 and the support of her husband and in-laws has only made her more determined to succeed at the national stage.

“I thank my in-laws for supporting me in my sporting career. My husband, who works in Bengaluru, constantly supports me by sending money so that I don’t face any difficulties.

“My next target is to win medals at the senior level and then compete internationally. For that I am tirelessly working to improve my style of play and also increase my strength,” she concluded.