25-05-2025
UP athletes' Khelo India feat draws Modi's praise
Lucknow/Varanasi:
on Sunday termed the Khelo India Youth Games-2025, held recently in Bihar, as a "big hit" and hailed three athletes from Uttar Pradesh, Sheikh Zeeshan of Varanasi, Qadir Khan of Bareilly and Tushar Chaudhary of Bijnor, for their exceptional performance.
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In his Mann Ki Baat programme, the PM said that a total of 26 records were made in Khelo India and UP's Qadir Khan and Sheikh Zeeshan performed brilliantly in athletics.
He said that in weightlifting event, UP's Tushar Chaudhary won everyone's heart.
Zeeshan made a new record of 15.66 metres in triple jump. He also won a silver by jumping 7.29 metres at the event.
The youngest among seven siblings, including five sisters, 17-year-old son of Prayagraj's Aminuddin, who operates a taxi in Mumbai, Zeeshan started training under Manzoor Alam Ansari, staying at sports department's athletics hostel of BR Ambedkar Stadium in Varanasi.
"Apart from speed, power and technique, Zeeshan's hard work and devotion have started yielding positive results. Overcoming hurdles like injuries, Zeeshan succeeded in achieving this milestone," his coach said.
Zeeshan, whose idols are US athlete Christian Taylor in triple jump and Mike Powell in long jump, gives the credit for his success to his father and elder brother Zaid.
Qadir Khan, who drew everyone's attention by breaking the national record twice in the 400-metre race, studied at Bareilly's FR Islamia Inter College.
Similarly, Tushar Chaudhary, son of a farmer from Bijnor, claimed a gold medal in weightlifting by lifting a total of 289 kg in the 102kg category.
Yogi praises UP athletes for discipline, determination
After Prime Minister lauded the achievements of three UP athletes in his Mann Ki Baat programme on Sunday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that their achievements showed their relentless efforts, discipline and determination.
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"The mention of the excellent performance of UP athletes, including Sheikh Zeeshan, by the PM in today's Mann Ki Baat made the entire state proud. This performance of the young players is result of their hard work, discipline and determination. The vision of 'Khelo India' is continuously getting stronger under your (PM's) successful leadership," Yogi posted on X. The CM expressed gratitude to the PM for encouraging sporting talent of Uttar Pradesh.
