Somashekar Padukere 

No one has heard about the richest temples of the India are imparting sports training and preparing sportsmen for international sports events. No richest temples like Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati, Ananthapadmanabha Swamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram or any Masjids or churches offered training to sportspersons in India. 

However, one such temple is in India. Vaishno Devi Mandir in Bhavan, Katra of Jammu and Kashmir has been providing world-class training to sportspersons. When this reporter enquired about two archers who will be participated in the Tokyo2020 Paralympic Games, an inspiring story of the Vashno Devi temple has come to known. 

Vaishno Devi Mandir sports center has been giving training to more than 300 sportspersons in different sports disciplines. Matha Vaishno Devi temple has been imparting training to sportsmen of all castes and communities and they have been sent to international sports events including Tokyo Olympics, Archery coach Kuldeep Kumar Vedwan told 24x7liveindia.com. 

Sports training center of the temple has been providing world-class training in Football, Volleyball, Table tennis, and other indoor and outdoor sports. Professionals have been hired to give training to sportspersons of all communities. 

“We will not differentiate the sportspersons based on their caste and creed. Sportspersons of all castes are getting training here. Two archers who obtained training in Vaishno Devi sports training center will represent India in Tokyo2020 Paralympic Games”, Mr. Kuldeep Kumar Vedwan said.  

Archers, Jyothi and Rakesh Kumar, will represent India in the Paralympic; it would be a pride moment for Vaishno Devi sports center, said Mr. Kuldeep Kumar Vedwan.

Archer Jyothi, having polio disease following a wrong treatment of the doctor, had obtained world-class training in Vaishno Devi sports center; she had attended many national and international sports events before going to Paralympic in Tokyo2020. 

Rakesh lost his legs in an accident and attempted suicide, but his friends have rescued him. He trained at Vaishno Devi sports center and was getting ready to fly Tokyo for Paralympics, starting from August 24, 2021. He was the first archer selected to Paralympics from India; earlier, he represented India in many International events. 

Sportspersons of Jammu and Kashmir would have been sidelined if they are dependent on government support. However, Vaishno Devi sports center has identified many talented sportspersons and given training to them, and this center is get registered in Khelo India and also got the appreciation of the Union government. 

If the richest temples in South India paved the path of Vaishno Devi Mandir, it would help many poor sports persons to get training in sports.