Blast hit Varanasi prepares to welcome Commonwealth winner 'Bahu'

Varanasi, Mar 18 (UNI) The holy city is gearing up to accord a grand welcome to Sushma Rana, its talented daughter-in-law, who did the country proud by winning the gold medal in shooting competition of the ongoing Commonwealth Games yesterday.

Sushma, the sister of master pistol shooter Jaspal Rana, is the daughter-in-law of BJP president Rajnath Singh, besides being a member of Varanasi Rifle Club.

The general secretary of Varanasi Rifle Club and City Magistrate Sushil Chandra Srivastava, said that the holy city is proud to have a ''Bahu'' who has held the tricolour high at the Melbourne games by clinching the gold medal with Saroja Kumari Jhuthu, in 25 metre pistol pair event.

''We will give our Bahu a rapturous welcome when she steps into her Sasural,'' an overjoyed Mr Srivastava said.

A special function is also on cards to honour Sushma, one of the 968 members of the Club.

Sushma had quit the membership of Rifle Club in her home state of Uttaranchal after being married to the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister's son and subsequently took the membership of the Varanasi Rifle Club, Mr Srivastava said.

As a member of the club, the talented markswoman had first struck gold during National Shooting championship in New Delhi in September 2005, but the Commonwealth games success is certainly a major achievment, he added.

''We now aspire to see Sushma standing out on the top spot at medal podium in Asian and Olympic Games,'' he said.

Mr Srivastava also said that this memorable success by the ''Banarasi Bahu'' will help in lifting up the spirits of the youngsters of the ancient city, rocked by the twin blast of March Seven last.

Meanwhile, the native village of Rajnath Singh, Bhabhaura in the neighbouring Chandaulli district is exhilirated by the success of its ''Bahu.'' The elder brother of the BJP president, Kashinath Singh and gram pradhan Satya Narayan Yadav have promised an unforgettable gift to their Bahu on return from Melbourne.

UNI NAR-ARS VD KN1754