Ajit John
ajit@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Goa secured its first gold medal in the 38th National Games being held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand after Bhuvaneshwari Suresh Jadhav emerged victorious in the Kaipuro (open-hand fight) category of Kalaripayattu. Competing in the 60-70 kg female category, she defeated her opponent from Delhi in a closely contested final yesterday.
Bhuvaneshwari's path to gold was marked by dominant performances. In the earlier rounds, she outclassed her rivals, beating Rajasthan 17-6 and Haryana 14-5, before sealing the final with a closely fought golden point victory. This achievement marks her debut appearance at the National Games.
Meanwhile, Goa narrowly missed out on another medal as Shrungi Bandekar finished fourth in the 400-meter medley finals.
Speaking to O Heraldo, Bhuvaneshwari shared insights into her journey in Kalaripayattu, a martial art she was introduced to by her parents.
She said, “I was introduced to the sport by my parents. It was considered just an art form, then.”
“My parents were keen that I take up an Indian martial art. I have won five national gold medals in this discipline and am the only Goan participating in Kalaripayattu at the National Games," said the 27-year-old, who is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Yoga.
“I was very keen on being an athlete for the country and hence I took up karate too and have been part of the national team for 7 years. I have participated in 3 Commonwealth games and the Asian games in 2022 which we could not go,” Bhuvaneshwari added.
Calling Kalaripayattu “the mother of all martial arts,” Bhuvaneshwari emphasised its historical significance. "Kung Fu originated from this art. Buddhist monks who travelled abroad in ancient times spread knowledge of Kalaripayattu, which later evolved into various martial arts worldwide," she said.
With her victory she can expect to receive Rs 3 lakh from the government under a scheme announced ahead of the previous National Games hosted in Goa.