ARUNESHWAR SINGH Deo, RK Gupta and Sushil shared the gold medal of the district-level rifle shooting competition organised by Bhopal Rifle Club and Bhopal District Rifle Club in the City today.

The competition was organised in three categories including women, men and junior. Five participants from each category participated in the contest.

Appearing in the men's section, the spectators watched a close contest between Singh Deo, Gupta and Sushil. Such was the keenly fought contest among them that they were declared joint gold winners as they bagged 74.5 points each. Vinay stood second in the same category with 67.5 points.

In the women's section, once again, Divyanka Tripathi dominated the contest. Maintaining her splendid performance, she bagged the gold medal with 76 points. She has been dominating her category for the last couple of years. Rasleen Gupta had to content with the second position with 66. 5 points.

In the junior section, Awdesh Pratap Singh won the gold medal with 81.5 points. Aishwarya Triptahi, brother of Divyanka Tripathi stood second in the respective category with 64.5 points.

In the prize distribution ceremony, NVDA chairman AV Singh, Lokendra Singh and Rajesh Mishra and others were present. Bhopal District Rifle Club was declared overall team championship winner of the tournament.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/2005/Dec/12/5922_1571458,00150 02100010000.htm

By her own admission she is an adventurous girl. An NCC cadet and a gold medallist in rifle shooting Divyanka wanted to become an army officer. But she didn't pursue her dream when she got busy participating in talent contests like Sahara One's Mr. & Miss Bollywood and Zee's India's Best. While she won the Sahara's Mr. & Miss contest and did a tele-film for the channel called Saathi Re, she got eliminated in the second round of Zee's India's Best.

She tried her luck at the Miss Bhopal beauty contest and emerged a winner. She soon participated in Zee's Teen Queen contest where she won the Miss beautiful skin title. "It gave me a lot of confidence and I thought of doing serials," recalls Divyanka who debuts on television next week in Zee's Banoo Main Teri Doolhan. 

Of course she had donned the grease paint and emoted before the camera before for Bhopal Doordarshan in a tele-film called Gulra Ke Baba which was based on well known literature Markandey's novel of the same name besides Sahara's Saathi Re. But those were one-off short films made on a much smaller scale and lacked the glamour and glitz of the mass entertainment daily soaps.

Though she was based in Bhopal she dreamed of working in regular television serials. Luckily her co-actor from one of her tele-films came to her aid. Through his model-coordinator he did the groundwork of reaching her pictures to the production house's office which was looking for a girl to play the main lead in Banoo Main Teri Doolhan. "I was called to Mumbai for an audition and to my surprise I was selected for the role," she smiles.

The show, according to Divyanka, is based in a small town and deals with a young girl's struggle to come up in life against all odds. "Like most small town girls, Vidya is a chirpy, confident and positive girl who strives to come out of her small town existence. Destiny helps her reach her goal. It's a beautiful story with lot of masala," laughs Divyanka who feels small town girls are more smarter and ambitious than big city girls.

"That's because when you have access to a lot of stuff your ambition takes a hit because things are taken for granted. On the other hand, small town girls dream big because they have limited access to opportunities." She is really excited about her role and big television debut.

"This is my first real big exposure and I hope I live up to everyone's expectations," she adds. But then like most small cities and town girls Divyanka is also not low on confidence. "In many ways I am like Vidya. I am a positive thinking girl and can face problems confidently. I love challenges," she asserts.

This is my first real exposure and I hope I live up to everyone's expectations. In many ways, I am like Vidya, a positive thinking girl and can face problems confidently. I love challenges - Divyanka, TV actress

Dulhan Banoo Main Teri is the story of Vidya, an illiterate girl from Benaras who has a fairy tale wedding and goes to live in Delhi. Unfortunately, she soon realises that her dream of marrying Prince Charming has been completely shattered. She has to battle against all odds from bearing the wrath of her in-laws to coming to terms with the fact that her husband has rejected her because she is an illiterate who doesn't gel with his lifestyle. Dulhan Banoo Mein Teri is the story of Vidya's destiny to gain both her life back and husband's love.

The show, produced by Neelima Bajpai of Reth fame, has newcomer Divyanka playing the lead role of Vidya. Opposite her is Sharad Malhotra, another young actor who has also acted in the Sony show Kabhie to Nazar Milao. Also seen will be actors like Kamya Punjabi and Rajendra Gupta. The show will go on air on Zee TV from Monday, August 14.