Gonda: On the final day of the state-level taekwondo championship held at K.D. Singh Babu Stadium in Lucknow from July 30 to August 2, two of Gonda district’s youngest players turned heads across the state with a standout performance.
Competing in the under-3.5-years age category, Gonda’s Arya Maurya and Bhavya Khandelwal made history — theirs were the only entries in this age group from any of the state’s 64 districts, which meant the gold and silver medals were contested entirely between the two young girls from Gonda. In an extremely neck to neck bout, Arya Maurya bagged a gold, while Bhavya Khandelwal managed to take home a silver.
Spectators and sports officials were left in awe of the confidence, courage and technical skills that the youngsters displayed. Moreso because they showcased spark at a very young age. Everyone present at the spot showered fulsome praise on the young. Speaking up on the match, Rajkumar, Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Taekwondo Association spoke highly of the achievement of Gonda’s two young athletes and wished them well.
With history unfolding in front of their eyes, Dr. Pratyush Raj, Secretary of the Gonda Taekwondo Association, District Sports Officer Ranjit Raj, and other officials were happy to see Taekwondo making giant strides at the grassroot level. They appreciated girls and their parents wishing them continued success. This feat has led to Gonda district bringing pride to the entire state of Uttar Pradesh.
