Asian Games: India’s medal hopes with Allahabad connect
ALLAHABAD Three international sportspersons having Allahabad connect are also carrying India’s hopes for medals in the 18th edition Asian Games that kicked-off at Palembang in Indonesia on Saturday.
They are two gymnasts Ashish Kumar and Siddharth Verma and hockey player Gurjeet Kaur.
These three are among the hundreds of sportspersons who are out to prove their mettle by winning medals for their countries.
Ashish Kumar hogged the limelight after bagging first ever medal for India in gymnastics in 2010 Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi.
After bagging the bronze in floor exercise event, the gymnast again created history by winning a silver medal the next day in vault event.
In the same year, Ashish, a resident of Civil Lines in Allahabad, won bronze again in Asian Games held in China.
This was the first time when any gymnast had won medals for India.
Similarly, gymnast Siddharth Verma, a resident of Ashok Nagar, also impressed with his gymnastic skills in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Although he did not bag any medal in the event, he drew attention of world community by his sparkling performances. This is the first time that he is participating in the Asian Games.
Gymnastics coach of National Sports Academy, Jhalwa, Rohit Jaiswal said both the gymnasts are well experienced and can be tough competitors.
Likewise, international hockey player working with railways in Allahabad division of North Central Railway (NCR) Gurjeet Kaur is the senior player of Indian women hockey team.
Hailing from Punjab, Kaur plays as a defender and is also the Indian team’s designated drag flicker.
She played a vital role in the India’s win in the Asia Cup held in Japan in 2017.
The India women team had won the prestigious cup defeating China 5-4 through penalty shootout.
She had scored eight goals in the matches played in the Asia Cup. Prior to it, Kaur had helped India reach the finals by netting two goals in the Hockey World League Round-2 held in Canada.
As per her coach Pushpa Srivastava, Kaur is an unmatchable player and has the potential to turn the tables.
GURJEET KAUR PLAYED
A VITAL ROLE IN THE INDIA’S WIN IN THE ASIA CUP HELD IN JAPAN IN 2017. SHE HAD SCORED EIGHT GOALS IN THE MATCHES PLAYED IN THE ASIA CUP.