Bengaluru:Lovely Professional University (LPU) on Monday said 14 exceptional its students have secured their spots in India’s Paralympic team, forming a substantial 16 per cent of the Indian contingent that is heading to Paris for the prestigious Paralympics event.
The Paralympics 2024 will be held in Paris, France from August 28 to September 8, 2024.
This marks a significant milestone as these students will be part of India’s largest-ever representation at the Paralympics, the university in a release.
The talented LPU students will be showcasing their prowess in various sports disciplines, including javelin throw, canoeing and kayaking, high jump, discus throw, and shot put.
Among these athletes are some remarkable individuals who have already made a name for themselves on the global stage. LPU student Sumit Antil (MBA), a two-time world champion and Tokyo 2020 gold medalist in javelin throw. He will be India’s flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the Paralympics, the release said.
Other accomplished athletes such as Sandeep (MBA), Rinku (MA), Sunder Singh (BA), Sandip Sanjay (MCA) in javelin throw, Rohit (MBA), Arvind (MA) in shot put, Ram Pal (MBA), Shailesh Kumar, Nishad Kumar (MA) in high jump, Yogesh Kathuniya (MA) in discus throw, Prachi Yadav, Yash (BA), and Pooja Ojha (MA) in canoeing and kayaking will be participating in the event.
Expressing immense pride and optimism, Ashok Kumar Mittal, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) & Founder Chancellor of LPU, said, “I am extremely proud of our students who have earned the opportunity to represent India at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. We are incredibly proud that after having 24 students in the Olympics, our 14 students are now representing our country at the Paralympics. We at LPU are hopeful for their success and are confident that their achievements will bring honour not only to our university but also to the nation.”
“Para Athletes encounter myriad challenges in their arduous journey, despite facing obstacles; these resilient athletes remain focused on their goals. This inspires and motivates LPU to extend support to disabled players so they can make the country proud,” he added.
LPU has made significant investments in developing top-notch sports facilities and offering 100 per cent scholarships to promising disabled athletes. The university also offers specialised rehabilitation and physiotherapy services to aid athletes and spinal cord injury patients in recovery and performance enhancement. This unwavering commitment to sporting excellence has led LPU students to consistently excel in national and international competitions, the university said.
The Paris Paralympics, set to be the 17th Olympiad, will have 549 events spanning 22 sports. With participation of around 4,400 athletes from across the globe, this event promises to be a thrilling showcase of talent and determination.
LPU stands firmly behind its students, cheering them on as they aim for greatness on the world stage, the university said.