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Key Points

Three Pencak Silat champions—Kirtana Acharya, Prasanna Bendre, and Princess Thomas—celebrated their gold medals at KIBG 2025 with heartfelt reactions. Kirtana dedicated her home victory to years of training while eyeing international success next. Prasanna, a decorated athlete, highlighted how Khelo India boosts the sport’s recognition. Princess Thomas described her unexpected gold win as an emotional milestone in her career. The trio’s triumphs showcased Pencak Silat’s growing prominence in Indian beach sports.

Key Points: Kirtana Prasanna Princess Win Pencak Silat Gold at KIBG 2025

  • Kirtana Acharya wins senior female gold in hometown Diu
  • Prasanna Bendre adds KIBG gold to international medals
  • Princess Thomas secures first career gold
  • Athletes praise Khelo India platform for growth
3 min read

KIBG 2025: Pencak Silat gold medallists Kirtana, Prasanna, Thomas express delight after special win

Kirtana Acharya, Prasanna Bendre, and Princess Thomas celebrate Pencak Silat gold at Khelo India Beach Games 2025, sharing their journey and ambitions.

"It feels amazing, it feels exhilarating because this is my first gold medal. – Princess Thomas"

Diu, May 21

Kirtana Acharya, Prasanna Bendre and Princess Thomas, who stood at the top podium ranking following their gold medal triumphs in different categories of Pencak Silat at the Khelo India Beach Games 2025, described their feelings and laid out their future goals and ambitions.

Pencak Silat is a form of Indonesian martial art, and it was great to see a Union Territory hemmed by the Arabian Sea excelling in the open competition at these Games. Hometown favourite, Kirtana Manojkumar Acharya, struck gold in the senior female category.

Kirtana expressed her delight and told ANI, "I feel good. It was a pleasant experience for me. It has come after a lot of hard work and consistency. Thanks to my coach, who always supported me."

While trying to express her feelings of claiming gold in front of her home crowd, Kirtana is targeting international medals, emphasising the importance of KIBG for athletes.

"I cannot explain this feeling. It is a very proud moment for me to represent my state. I cannot express much in words. I am proud that I can perform with good elegance and a smile," Kirtana said.

"My next target is winning international medals, and I am going for it. It is a very good opportunity for us athletes. It is important to perform and fight in such competitions," she concluded.

Another local hero, Prasanna Bendre of Daman and Diu, won the gold in the senior men's tunggal (artistic) event. Bendre is the most accomplished player in the region, with a silver medal and two bronze medals from international events.

He won the silver in the 2022 Asian championship in Jammu and Kashmir, while his two bronze medals came in the 2024 Asian championship in Dubai and the 2024 world championship in Abu Dhabi. Bendre believes the sport's inclusion in Khelo India is "beneficial" for the athletes.

"It is a very proud moment for me. Khelo India is a very good platform. Since Pencak Silat has been added to Khelo India, it will be very beneficial for us. It is a big thing to win a gold medal at such a big stage. I am very happy about it," he said.

Princess Thomas, another gold medal winner in Pencak Silat, expressed her emotions and said, "It feels amazing, it feels exhilarating because this is my first gold medal. It was a nervy affair, but it was great and amazing. I am speechless. It was nice because I wasn't expecting it to be that way."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
What an inspiring performance by our athletes! 🇮🇳 Pencak Silat may not be as popular as cricket or badminton in India, but seeing our players excel in this martial art form makes me proud. Kirtana's dedication and Prasanna's international experience show the depth of talent we have. Hope they get more support!
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Priya M.
So happy to see small Union Territories like Diu producing champions! 👏 Kirtana's words about performing with elegance and a smile touched my heart. This is why we need Khelo India - to discover hidden talents from every corner of our country. More power to these athletes!
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Arjun S.
While I appreciate their achievements, I wonder why we're focusing on an Indonesian martial art when we have so many indigenous martial forms like Kalaripayattu. Shouldn't Khelo India prioritize our own traditional sports first? Just a thought...
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Sunita R.
Princess Thomas's reaction is so genuine! "It feels amazing, it feels exhilarating" - this shows the raw emotion of an athlete's first big win. Wishing all three medalists the very best for their international ambitions. Hope DD Sports gives more coverage to such sports!
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Vikram J.
Prasanna Bendre's track record is impressive - silver in Jammu Asian championship and bronzes in Dubai/Abu Dhabi! Shows how our athletes are making mark globally. But why isn't this getting same media attention as cricket? #MoreThanCricket
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Neha P.
Beach Games in Diu sounds so picturesque! 🏖️ Great to see sports being promoted in unconventional locations. Maybe next time they can include water sports too since it's by Arabian Sea. These athletes are making coastal India proud in every way!

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