Harvinder Singh Wins ESPN India’s Male Para-Athlete 2024 Award
Harvinder Singh’s achievement at the Paris 2024 Paralympics has not only given his name a place in the record books but also stamped him as a pioneer figure in Indian archery. Before this year, Harvinder was the only Indian who won a medal in the game of archery both in the Olympics and Paralympics. His victory at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, however, took this moment further and made him the country’s first-ever gold medal winner in archery from these events. Mental Toughness Takes Harvinder Singh To New Heights What truly set Harvinder Singh apart in this high-stakes competition was his ability to remain composed and deliver clutch performances when it mattered the most. Indian archers have often been criticized for not being able to find their best shots at critical moments, however, Harvinder Singh changed that. He produced great shots in the quarterfinals and semifinals when he hit six set-winning tens, showing what an impressive precision and composure under pressure he had. Despite being in some tough situations, like a tied quarterfinal and dropping the first set in the semifinal, Harvinder Singh was able to get himself into rhythm at the most opportune times. Harvinder’s Preparation For Victory Harvinder Singh’s victory was not only because of his natural talent but also through meticulous preparation. Through grueling training, he and his coach identified critical competition moments where he had to perform. Specifically, Harvinder Singh ensured that his third shot in each set became absolutely crucial because his experience showed him that this shot could seal his fate in the competition. When he was able to repeat his best performances into real match scenarios, it confirmed him at the top of the podium. A Relentless Pursuit Of Excellence While his gold in the Paralympics was at its zenith, the journey did not stop there for Harvinder Singh. The sweetness of winning has only served to intensify his need to go beyond that. It can be said that Harvinder Singh was unable to even rejoice over his win, given the mixed team event that is scheduled for the following day. Harvinder still remains devoted to his sport, as future challenges await. The path to the Asian Para Games in 2026 and the World Championships in 2025 has already been set underway with relentless training in Patiala. Harvinder Singh Bags ESPN India’s Male Para-Athlete 2024 Harvinder Singh’s trailblazing achievements, his performance under pressure and his hunger for more accolades make him ESPN India’s Male Para-Athlete of 2024. He has set new benchmarks for Indian archery and continues to inspire the next generation of para-athletes. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Avani Lekhara Wins ESPN India’s Female Para-Athlete 2024 Award
Avani Lekhara has been named ESPN India’s Female Para-Athlete of 2024 after cementing her legacy with her outstanding performance at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. This accolade comes after she successfully defended her Paralympic gold in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event, making her the first Indian athlete to win back-to-back Paralympic gold medals. Avani Lekhara’s Paralympic Gold Defense At Paris 2024 It was groundbreaking enough when Lekhara triumphed at the Tokyo 2020 Games to become the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold and the first female multi-medallist. In Paris, though, she encountered an entirely new set of challenges: recovery from surgery before the Games, for starters, as well as tough competition within India. It was a journey not so easy, but one in which Lekhara displayed true grit to achieve her way onto the podium, delivering another memorable performance. Avani Lekhara’s Clutch Performance At Paris 2024 The Paris 2024 final was a nerve-wracking affair, with the lead changing hands several times. Lekhara, who started slowly, demonstrated remarkable consistency, hitting only one shot below 10. As the competition heated up, she responded under pressure, including two critical shots—10.6 and 10.7—that kept her in contention. The final series was especially intense. With her lead narrowing, it seemed that Lekhara might lose the gold, but a shocking mistake by South Korea’s Lee Yunri, who hit a 6.8, gave Lekhara a chance to take a lead with a clutch 10.5 on her final shot. The result was an emotional moment for the young athlete as she clinched the gold again and made history in the process. From Tragedy To Triumph Lekhara’s road to success is one of perseverance and triumph. After a disastrous car accident at 11 left her in a wheelchair, she found solace in shooting, inspired by Abhinav Bindra’s autobiography. Her passion and dedication led her to Mumbai for training, where she honed her skills under national coach Suma Shirur. Avani Lekhara’s Role In India’s Para-Sport Legacy Lekhara’s success is reflective of the strengthening of the para-sport movement in India, wherein athletes not only overcome adversity but also transcend what was thought possible. It was not merely a question of technique that won Lekhara the victory in Paris; it was a question of mental strength and resilience. A True Legend Of Indian Sports Lekhara is the first Indian athlete to win two successive Paralympic golds. The recognition of Lekhara as the Female Para-Athlete of 2024 by ESPN India further strengthens her position as a true legend in Indian sports. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Paris 2024 Medallists Return To National Shooting Championships
India’s Paris Olympics 2024 medallists are expected to return to competitive shooting at the Senior National Shooting Championships, which will commence on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Olympic Medalists Return To Action At National Shooting Championships The Senior National Shooting Championships will feature big names such as Swapnil Kusale, who will be competing in the rifle events and Sarabjot Singh, who will compete in the pistol events. However, the star of India’s Paris 2024 campaign, Manu Bhaker, will only compete in the Minimum Qualification Score (MQS) section, meaning that her scores will not be taken into account in the competition. Will Manu Bhaker Participate At National Shooting Championships? Manu Bhaker was a double medallist at the Paris Olympics 2024. She has sought to be considered for the MQS section while she continues to recover and polish her skills. After a long break following her success at Paris 2024, she traveled with her personal coach, Jaspal Rana to Lugano, Switzerland, to focus on improving the technical aspects of her weapon at the Morini factory. Currently, Bhaker has been training at Delhi’s Karni Singh Shooting Range however she prefers to take more time before fully re-engaging in high-level competition. Manu, the other two Olympic medallists—Kusale and Singh—are returning from a break in training by skipping the October World Cup. Selection Trials And National Games After selection trials, the National Games are scheduled in Uttarakhand starting from January 28,2025 to February 14, 2025. Even the NRAI has not stated its official selection policy in place yet, though debate is going on about alterations. Among such, one important proposal on table includes the right to practice the national campers with personal coaches outside the national camps, which is similar to that adopted by the NRAI a few years back at Paris Olympics where shooters ready to head for the Games can meet their personal coaches who remain in touch with national coaches. NRAI Policy Discussions And Support Elite Shooters With domestic competition still growing, another proposal in discussion is to help shooters who have fallen out of the national team’s ecosystem. It is challenging for many shooters to re-enter the national camp once they are out for some time. This new policy may help in technical support and coaching for such talents. Participation At Senior National Shooting Championships A record 13,522 shooters have enrolled for the national championships, which will be participated in rifle events, with the maximum number of entries (7,013). Rifle competitions will be held from December 15-31 at the MP State Shooting Academy in Bhopal. Pistol competitions will be conducted at the Karni Singh Shooting Range in Delhi. Also, 837 shotgun shooters will be taking part in skeet, trap, and double trap competitions with defending champions Anant Jeet Singh Naruka and Ganemat Sekhon eyeing title retention in men’s and women’s skeet. Which athlete are you looking forward to perform at the National Shooting Championships? The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Reliance Foundation And Nita Ambani Rewards Indian Olympians And Paralympians at ‘United in Triumph’
The Reliance Foundation under Nita M. Ambani hosted ‘United in Triumph’ at Antilia, Mumbai, in celebration of the Olympic and Paralympic athletes of India. It happened after India’s record-breaking performance in the Paris Paralympics 2024, wherein Indian athletes grabbed 29 medals, out of which, seven were gold medals. Nita Ambani throws spotlight on sporting excellence and equality Speaking to over 140 Olympians and Paralympians, Nita Ambani specifically focused on the unifying strength of sport. She saluted their collective efforts, stating how Indian athletes have proudly taken the tricolor to the world in recent months. Mrs. Ambani also spoke of the challenges that female athletes face in India, mostly from rural backgrounds, who defy societal and economic odds to succeed in the international arena. She extolled the achievement of making a powerful statement to teenage girls that nothing is impossible. Akash Ambani Wonders at Athletes’ Influence and Mother’s Vision Akash Ambani thanked the athletes as a source of inspiration for which he credits to his mother, Nita Ambani, who visualized the event and is working to help towards the vision of an inclusive sporting culture in India. Celebration of Sporting Icons from India and Stars in the Rise The event salutes Olympic and Paralympic legends like Neeraj Chopra, Manu Bhaker and Devendra Jhajharia, among others, however also acknowledges some of the faces for the future, such as the young Dhinidhi Desinghu, who is the youngest Indian athlete competing at Paris 2024. A Special Tribute to Nita Ambani’s Contribution In a special gesture, Paralympic champions Devendra Jhajharia and Sumit Antil presented the torch of the Paris Paralympics 2024 to Nita Ambani. This was in recognition of her contributions to inclusive sports development. Event Enthused On Inclusivity and Excellence An event like ‘United in Triumph’ is a defining moment for Indian sports, exemplifying the need for inclusivity and excellence in all arenas. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Rakshitha Raju: From Small-Town Tracks to the Paralympics
In the Chikkamagaluru region of Karnataka, little Rakshitha Raju found her passion for running on the grounds of Ashakirana School for the Blind. Blind by birth and orphaned early in life, brought up by her grandmother, Rakshitha Raju fought various disabilities. After all, who needs sight when you have a vision? Rakshitha’s legs had become the guiding compass to a future she had never imagined. Running Away. Into Opportunity A dream of only traveling grew bigger. Rakshitha Raju’s physical education teacher told her that running could take her farther-literally. From city to city, state to state, her legs were her ticket to adventure. Coach Rahul: The Game Changer Then came the game-changer in the form of coach, Rahul Balakrishna. An eye for talent and a heart full of belief, Rahul didn’t just train Rakshitha Raju-invest he did. He even took out a Rs 2 lakh loan to fuel her dreams. Talk about commitment! Together they stormed international competitions, grabbing gold at the World Para Athletics Junior Championships and the Asian Para Games. Hers is much more than a story of medals; it is about outrunning limitations, silencing doubters and chasing dreams with every step. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Paris Paralympics 2024: Kapil Parmar’s Bronze Blitz: India’s Para Judo Trailblazer
Kapil Parmar created history by securing India’s first bronze medal in para judo at the Paris Paralympics 2024. On Thursday, Parmar simply outclassed his opponent, Brazil’s Elielton de Oliveira, in the men’s 60kg (J1) category with an absolute thrashing of 10-0. Talk about a convincing victory! From the small village to big leagues Kapil, the Judo sensation from Shivor-a teeny village in Madhya Pradesh, that is only large enough to have a mishap with the water pump. Being the youngest of five siblings, his dad drives a taxi, while his sister runs a school; one would think Parmar’s story was the script for a real-life underdog movie. His middle brother is a judo enthusiast and joined him for training. Family squad goals! Lightning Start to a Judo Career Kapil Parmar’s path to the Paralympics was not easy. As a kid, he had received a shock when he came in contact with a water pump and slipped into a six-month-long coma. Powering up blindsided, he used this as an opening he could bank on in blind judo, initiated by his ever-inspiring mentors Bhagwan Das and Manoj Sir. Medal Mania How is that for being on a roll? Kapil Parmar’s trophy cabinet has started looking like a judo jackpot. From silver at the Asian Para Games 2022 to golds at the Commonwealth Championships and IBSA Judo Grand Prix in 2024, the medals have been coming as if he is collecting them for the end of their fashion. Add to this a bronze at the IBSA World Games in 2023 and it becomes clear: Kapil is on a winning streak that is raising a storm. So here’s to Kapil Parmar-India’s para judo trailblazer, who showed the rest of us with grit and grace, even from a village as unlikely as anything, the birth of a champion was possible! The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Paris Paralympics 2024: Narayana Konganapalle’s Journey From Landmine to Lifeline
Life can change in a blink – or, in the case of Narayana Konganapalle, with one step. Just seven days before the completion of his tenure in Jammu and Kashmir, Narayana stepped on a landmine. His world exploded, quite literally, with his leg blown off below the knee. Newly married and eager to go home, this was not quite the homecoming he had in mind. What do you do when the direction of your life changes so suddenly? If you are Narayana, you resort to sports and in the process create a saga of grit and willpower that may motivate an entire nation. Prosthetics and Perseverance Months in hospital passed, and Narayana did not know how to impart the news to both his parents and his wife. He kept the secret and his spirit intact, finding hope in the form of a prosthetic limb at Pune’s Artificial Limb Centre. A year after that incident, Narayana was walking again, and he was getting ready for an all-new adventure. And it wasn’t your regular post-army career move either. From Border Patrol to Rowing Royalty Narayana’s venture into sports began with javelin, but running did not agree with his newly fitted leg. In came rowing. Within one year of this, he was killing it-inning medals at the 2019 Poland Championship and bringing home bronze from the World Rowing Cup and the Asian Championships. The second master of this former sepoy, once guarding India’s borders, was now creating waves-quite literally-on the world stage, along with his rowing partner, Kuldeep Singh, another soldier with a story of resilience. Together they snagged bronze at the 2022 World Cup. Rowing with a Twist Just when you thought his story couldn’t get more epic, the 2023 Para-Asian Games threw in a curveball. The men’s event was scratched and Narayana needed a new partner. Along came Anita, another amputee of fighting spirit. With just eight months of training, this time the dynamic duo began to row their way into silver in the Para-Asian Games and faster than it takes to say the word “underdog,” qualified in the Paralympics of 2024. Not bad for two people that a few years prior had to relearn how to walk! First a soldier, then a rower-Narayana’s story is one of life’s quirky little twists and turns that you can’t help but enjoy. From battlefield to the lanes, his story showed that no matter how fantastically life decides to blow up in your face-or leg-there’s always a way to row forward. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Each one of you has overcome the challenges life has presented and emerged as winners: Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, today felicitated the members of the Indian Para-athletics contingent on their triumphant return to India after their outstanding performances at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Union Minister felicitated the athletes, coaches, and support staff during the ceremony. Addressing the contingent, Dr. Mandaviya expressed his admiration and appreciation for their remarkable achievements, stating: “I am thrilled to meet six Paralympics debutant athletes today. I want to congratulate Deepthi on winning a medal in her very first participation in this prestigious event. To the others, I give you my best wishes for the future Paralympics, where I am confident you will win medals. Remember, playing is not just about medals, each one of you has overcome the challenges life has presented and emerged as winners. You are all an inspiration to millions of youth across India.” Among those present were athlete Deepthi Jeevanji, who won the bronze in the Women’s 400m T20 category on her Paralympic debut, and her fellow debutant athletes Ravi Rongali (Men’s Shotput F40), Rakshita Raju (Women’s 1500m T11), Kanchan Lakhani (Women’s Discus Throw F53), Sakshi Kasana (Women’s Discus Throw F55), and Manu (Men’s Shotput F37), along with their coaches Rahul Balakrishna, Suresh Kumar Kuruba, Sunil Lakhani, and escort. Deepthi, whose talent was discovered by SAI coach N Ramesh in Hyderabad, started her para-athletics journey in 2019. She has been a Khelo India athlete since 2018 and is now a TOPS athlete. In a short period, she has won many international competitions including a God Medal at the Asian Para Games and a Gold Medal at the 2024 World Championship, where she broke the world record. In the domestic circuit, she made a mark by winning two medals at the Khelo India Youth Games in 2020. After the felicitation programme, Deepthi said, “I am so happy that I could win a medal for the country. I won a bronze medal now, but I will try to win a gold next time.” India has bagged a total of 24 medals, including 5 Gold, 9 Silver and 10 Bronze medals, as on the end of the day’s events on September 4, 2024. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Paris Paralympics 2024: From Roller Hockey to Wheelchair Hero: The Unstoppable Pranav Soorma
Pranav Soorma was your regular sports-loving teenager, zipping through roller hockey matches, smashing sixes on the cricket field. That was until life threw him the ultimate curveball at 16. A freak accident-where a cement sheet fell on his head-changed it all, leaving him paralyzed and facing a future in a wheelchair. Wheelchair? No Problem! Let’s Crush Exams Instead For most, that would be game over. Not for Pranav Soorma. With a razor-sharp mind and 91.2% in the 12th boards-yes, you read that right-he planned his coup in academics by doing a degree in Economics from the prestigious Delhi School of Economics and landed a plum role as an Assistant Manager at Bank of Baroda. The power move! Para Sports: Love at Second Sight And then, the most unlikely comeback happened. Pranav Soorma went back to loving sports this time on wheels. Enter para athletics! It wasn’t long before he crushed the competition: a silver at the 2019 Beijing Grand Prix and gold at the Serbia Open 2023. His ultimate flex? Smashing a throw of 30.01m at the 2023 Asian Para Games with a new record for the men’s club throw F51 event. Boom! The Real MVPs: Team Soorma, aka His Fam Here’s the kicker-Pranav Soorma didn’t do it alone. His dad, Sanjeev, quit to become his full-time sports sidekick, while his mom held down the fort as his biggest cheerleader. With their backing, Pranav Soorma’s story isn’t just about medals; it is of grit, family, and turning life’s wildest challenges into pure gold. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Paris Paralympics 2024: Dharambir’s Golden Throw Breaks Records
India’s Dharambir catapulted himself into history books with a sensational gold medal win in the men’s club throw F51 event at the Paris Paralympics 2024. A Victory of Records While the 35-year-old boy from Sonipat, Haryana, won gold and topped the podium, the sensational throw of 34.92m also broke the Asian record. And just for kicks? He did it on his fifth attempt – talk about saving the best for last! Double Delight for India And here comes the cherry on the cake: compatriot Pranav Soorma took the silver, thus ensuring a fantastic 1-2 finish for India. The victory took India’s medal count to 24 in this particular edition of the Paris Paralympic Games-higher than ever for the nation! As such, India has moved up to an overall ranking of 13th and is having quite a time in the Paris Paralympics. Dharambir’s Story: An Inspiring One Dharambir’s tale goes far beyond the winning throw. Quite literally, a tragic accident while diving in a canal in his village that left him without the use of his lower body below the waist saw him take life lying down; he soared over. Guided by mentor and para-athlete Amit Kumar Saroha, Dharambir dived head-first into para-sports in 2014, qualifying for the 2016 Rio Paralympics just two years later. Thence, he has picked up medals right, left, and center, including two silvers each at the Asian Para Games and a bronze at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships. Resilience Pays Off Indeed, he has achieved some serious success, and no wonder it saw him snatching the Bhim Award in 2022. With government support behind him, Dharambir surely proved that nothing was too big-or too far away-for him to surmount. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye