The upcoming northern zonal round of the Khelo India women’s wushu league is poised to captivate audiences with a lineup of esteemed athletes and promising newcomers. Scheduled to take place at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) in Patiala from July 9 to 13, the event promises to showcase the talents of 350 athletes competing across sub-junior, junior, and senior categories.
Organized by SAI Patiala and funded by the Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the competition boasts a total prize money of Rs 7.2 lakh, administered by the Wushu Federation of India. This prestigious event will feature disciplines in both Sanda (fighting) and Taolu (forms), drawing participants from states including Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh.
The northern zonal round follows the successful South Zonal event held last month in Karnataka and is a crucial step in the league’s calendar. The competition will pave the way for the national ranking championship after all four zonal meets are completed.
Highlighting the event are prominent international wushu athletes Ayeera Chisti and Komal Nagar, both of whom are expected to showcase their prowess at their training ground, NSNIS Patiala Centre. Ayeera, an 18-year-old with impressive credentials, including back-to-back gold medals in the previous Khelo India women’s wushu leagues, expressed her enthusiasm for competing on home turf once again.
“I am very excited to play in my home ground here in my third Khelo India women’s wushu league, having won gold in the last two championships,” said Ayeera, who made her debut in the competition in 2022.
Komal Nagar, 19, another rising star in the sport, also shared her ambitions for the upcoming competition and beyond. “The Khelo India women’s league is very important for a lot of girls especially looking at the future and I’m thankful to the government for this. As for me, I want to clinch a gold medal at the Asian Games in the 52kg category and become the first woman to achieve this feat for India in this weight division. Before that, I am aiming for the gold at the senior Asian championships in China this September,” she added.
The event not only aims to crown champions across various categories but also serves as a platform for young athletes to propel themselves onto the international stage. With top-tier talent and spirited competition expected, the northern zonal round of the Khelo India women’s wushu league promises to be a thrilling showcase of skill, determination, and future aspirations in Indian sports.
