Mandi’s Kusum wins gold, bronze at Khelo India

Mandi, February 29

Mandi girl Kusum Thakur brought laurels to Himachal by winning gold and bronze medals in the fourth edition of the Khelo India University Games competition held in Guwahati. Kusum won gold in the 200m and bronze in the 100m competition.

Kusum is the the only Himachal Pradesh University athlete to have won medals in the 100m and 200m competitions at the Khelo India Games. No one had achieved this feat in the women’s category before. She bagged a silver medal in the 4×400m women’s relay, too.

Kusum is a second year student of the Arts faculty at Mandi’s Vallabh Government College.

She had recently set record in the Inter-College Athletics Championship. At the All India Inter-University Athletics Championship held in Bhubaneswar, Kusum won gold in the 200m event.

The top eight participants at the All India University Athletics Championship were selected for the Khelo India University Games.

Kusum said her aim is to participate in the Asian Games and Olympic Games. She gave credit for her success to her coach, family and teachers.

She believes that the blessings of Lord Balakameshwar Banyuri, a local deity, are always with her.