Asian Games gold medallist Chikitha Taniparthi receives warm welcome in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Chikitha Taniparthi, the Telangana archer who won two gold medals at the just-concluded Asian Games in Japan, arrived in Hyderabad on Wednesday to a warm reception.

The top brass of the Sports Authority of Telangana and Sports Minister V Srihari were not present as they were apparently tied up with a meeting of the Games Technical Conduct Committee around the same time with top officials of the Sports Authority of India regarding the Khelo India Games to be held in December here.

Importantly, the top brass had been at the Asian Games venue in Japan and personally congratulated the triumphant archer.

For her part, Chikitha said she was immensely pleased with her performance and that the ultimate goal would be to eventually win an Olympic medal.

“I am grateful to the SAI, my coaches and my teammates for the wonderful support. It has been a truly amazing experience at the Asian Games,” she said.

“Yes, winning gold at the Asian Games is a dream come true and a huge motivation,” said Chikitha, the girl from a farmer’s family in Peddapalli.

“I do feel that these two gold medals are just the beginning and we, the entire archery team, are determined to bring more glory to India in all major championships in the run-up to the Olympics and in the 2028 Games too,” she said.

For the record, compound archery, in which Chikitha won two gold medals, has been included in the Olympics for the first time for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Among those present to welcome Chikitha were MLC Balamuri Venkat, SATH officials Suresh and TOA general secretary P Malla Reddy.