Challenging disability,and winning

The academy,where players are being trained in powerlifting,athletics and archery,is not only motivating the disabled to participate in sports,but also has become a nursery of “able young sportpersons”.

“The essential thing is not to win but to fight well,” said Parvinder Singh,a founder member of the academy,who though currently in wheelchair with a spinal cord injury,had been a sportsman prior to an accident in 2002. Parvinder,who had donated his 700 sq yard land to open this academy,is the only player in the country with spinal cord injury to win a medal (Bronze) in International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) Games 2009 in Bangalore.

The coach of the academy,Paralympian and Arjuna Awardee Rajinder Singh Rahelu,had won a gold in Invitational IPC (International Paralympic Committee) held in the UK in January 2011. He is one of the most successful wheelchair powerlifters in the country and had bagged a Bronze in the 2004 Greece Paralympic Games.

Rahelu,who is currently in London to participate in Paralympics to be held in London from August 29 to September 17,said: “The main aim of opening this academy was to inspire people to take up sports and help increase participation in disability sport. We believe that this academy will give more opportunities to the disabled across the state.”

“Players here have the potential to win in Paralympics but we need good stadium and good equipment,which cannot be possible without the help of the government,” he added. Players from the academy had won 20 medals,including six golds,in 2010.

Another founder of the academy is Captain (retd) Piara Singh,who is currently the chairman of the academy. A former coach of Olympics in weightlifting,Piara was the guiding force behind opening the academy,said Parvinder. “After my accident in 2002,I was in bed for two years. Piara Singh and Rahelu inspired me to participate in sports. Today,though I am disabled,I have won many medals in powerlifting.”

Parvinder added: “We need to encourage more youngsters and the disabled community as a whole to take up sport competitively or for health reasons. With our limited sources,we have covered nearby villages. At present,we don’t have any hostel facility,so we arrange rented accommodations for our players in the village.”

Polio-afflicted Kuldeep Singh,who had won gold at the national para games,said he came to know about the academy a couple of years ago. Kuldeep,who belongs to a poor family at Jaito Mandi in Malwa,works at a mobile repair shop to meet his expenses.

Another member of the academy,Jagdeep,who has disability in right leg and arm,had won four medals — including three silvers — in javelin,discus throw,shot put and 100 meters. The academy also boasts of Ramandeep Kaur and Rajdeep Kaur — both gold medallists at the national para games.