The penultimate day of the Khelo India Para Games 2025 saw Paralympian Sonalben Patel from Gujarat secure gold in the women’s Class 3 table tennis category. The left-handed Sonalben defeated Bihar’s Vidya Kumari with ease, according to a release from the Khelo India Para Games.
In other table tennis finals at the Indira Gandhi Stadium complex on Wednesday, 21-year-old Rishit Nathwani and 14-year-old Deepika Vijaya emerged as surprise winners in the men’s Class 5 and women’s Class 4 categories, respectively.
At the close of Day 7 of KIPG 2025, 178 gold medals had been awarded, with Haryana leading the medal tally with 32 gold medals. Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh followed with 28 and 22 gold medals, respectively.
The 37-year-old Sonalben was diagnosed with polio when she was six months old. This affected both her legs and right hand, leaving her with a 90% disability. Despite this, she fought her way to a bronze medal at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and successfully defended her gold at the Khelo India Para Games. She had also defeated Vidya in the inaugural edition of KIPG in December 2023.
“It is an amazing feeling to not only participate in the Khelo India Para Games 2025 but also win the gold for a second straight time. I have never let my disability stop me from becoming who I am today, and I am very proud of that,” Sonalben told SAI Media, as quoted in a release from the Khelo India Para Games.
Powerlifting Sees Record-Breaking Performances
The powerlifting competition concluded at the Khelo India Para Games 2025, with former KIPG medallists making their mark on Wednesday. Over the three days of competition, four national records were set by Jaspreet Kaur (45 kg), Manish Kumar (54 kg), Seema Rani (61 kg), and Jhandu Kumar (72 kg).
Haryana’s Pardeep Joon, who had won gold in the first edition of the Khelo India Para Games in December 2023, lifted 194 kg in the 107+ kg category to win his second gold medal of the Games. Coming from a middle-class family, Pardeep began his powerlifting journey in 2021 and worked hard to clinch gold in both the National Games and the Khelo India Para Games 2023.
Discussing his struggles after an injury, Pardeep said, “I was working on a farm when I got injured, resulting in nerve damage. Due to a lack of proper treatment, my leg had to be amputated. I was depressed for six months after my injury.”
However, with the support of his family and friend Jaideep, who introduced him to powerlifting and trained him, Pardeep found motivation. The 31-year-old emerged from his depression and gained recognition in sports.
Apart from Pardeep, Delhi’s Sahista shone brightly on the concluding day of the powerlifting competition. She upgraded her previous edition’s silver medal to gold this year by lifting 81 kg in the 79 kg category. As a child, an injection caused an infection that led to permanent knee damage.
Speaking about her journey in sports, the 25-year-old Sahista said, “Over time, I accepted it. Initially, I just wanted to build biceps, but I discovered Para powerlifting, which became my goal. After winning gold at the Nationals in Greater Noida, securing gold at Khelo India feels like a major milestone in my journey. Now, I am aiming to become a Paralympian.”
In the men’s 107 kg category, Maharashtra’s Dinesh Bagade, who had won a bronze medal in the last edition of the Khelo India Para Games, claimed gold after lifting 157 kg. Tamil Nadu’s Arunmoli Arunagiri also won gold in the women’s 86 kg category with a lift of 80 kg.
(ANI)