Kayaker Dally Bishnoi's Success Shines at Khelo India Festival

Srinagar, Aug 22 (PTI): At the tender age of 17, kayaker Dally Bishnoi is beyond counting her numerous accolades. Her illustrious string of victories at national events has made her a standout athlete in her field.

Emerging from the esteemed Water Sports Academy of Excellence in Bhopal, Dally clinched the women's 500m kayaking (K1) crown, as Madhya Pradesh swept all four gold medals in contention on the second day of the Khelo India Water Sports Festival on Friday.

Dally clocked in at 2:11.093 seconds, relegating Uttarakhand's Pukhrambam Roji Devi (2:14.068) and Kerala's Nikita Sarkar (2:22.154) to the second and third spots, respectively.

Adding to the gold rush, 14-year-old Niharika Singh and Chandrakala Kushwaha from Madhya Pradesh surged to victory in the women's kayaking 500m (K2) with a timing of 02:04.642 seconds. Further triumph came with the men's canoeing (C2) duo from the state, Sudhir Kumar, and Prince Goswami, securing gold in 1:50.943 seconds, while the men's kayaking (K2) team of Aditya Singh and Manjeet achieved gold in 1:41.595 seconds.

For Dally, a native of Handia in Madhya Pradesh's Harda district, her brother—a former national-level canoeist—served as her inspiration. Her burgeoning trophy cabinet includes two silver medals from the National Games in Uttarakhand and over a dozen golds, plus a comparable cache of silver and bronze from junior and senior tiers of national competitions.

Currently a 12th-grade arts student, Dally has her sights set on the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, acknowledging the immense effort required to turn her dreams into reality.

"I am a junior competing at the senior level," she remarks with a smile. "I've participated in the Nationals across both junior and senior categories, winning multiple golds. In the trials for KIWSF, I topped both K1 and K4 events, so I'm vying in both here."

Reflecting on her journey, Dally credits her brother's influence in her choice of sport, stating, "I joined the MP Centre of Excellence three years ago, allowing me to engage in such an expensive sport. I compete in K1, K2, and K4 disciplines."

She has reached the finals in two editions of the Junior Asian Championships.

"My parents emphasize the importance of education, so I balance academics and sports with training sessions in the morning and evening," she explains. "My school's proximity to the high-performance center facilitates this balance." Her father, a farmer, relocated from Handia to Bhopal to support her water sports endeavors.

"I plan to participate in next month's Asian Games trials, likely in Bhopal or Uttarakhand. Improving my timing will be key. Let's see where it leads," the kayaker concluded.

Meanwhile, 14-year-old Niharika Singh, together with Chandrakala Kushwaha, celebrated a breakthrough victory in the women's K2 event. For Bhopal-born Niharika, this maiden senior medal marks a significant milestone. As a swimmer-turned-kayaker, she has previously clinched three national sub-junior golds, pivoting to water sports at her swimming coach's suggestion.

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