IAF team led by woman adjudged best in parade

New Delhi: Indian Air Force's (IAF) Republic Day parade contingent, which was led by a woman officer for the first time in its 63-year-old history, has been adjudged he best marching team this year.

Among the three services, IAF's marching contingent has been selected as the best. BSF has got the award for best drill among the paramilitary forces, Defence Ministry officials said here today.

Three panels of judges were appointed for assessing the performances of marching contingents from the three Services, paramilitary forces and tableaux of various states, ministries, and schools, they said.

The BSF got the award for best drill among the paramilitary forces, Defence Ministry officials said on Saturday.

The award for the best tableaux has gone to Human Resource and Development (HRD) Ministry followed by those of Goa and Karnataka which bagged the second and third prizes respectively.

IAF's marching contingent was led by Flight Lieutenant Sneha Shekhawat who led the 144-strong team of Air Warriorson the Republic Day.

A native of Sikar in Rajasthan, Ft Lt Shekhawat is an Avro pilot based in Hindon. She was commissioned into IAF in 2008 and is married to an AN-32 pilot.

She had participated in last year's Republic Day parade also, officials said.

Leading the parade this year, Ft Lt Shekhawat was assisted by three other female colleagues. One of them Ft Lt Anupama Choudhary is a helicopter pilot while Ft Lts Pooja Negi and Heena Pore are accounts officers based in Pune and Avadi respectively.

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