Indian Paralympian Sandeep feels proud after making into Forbes’ list

At this time of distress when the world battles the coronavirus pandemic, India’s star Para Javelin thrower Sandeep Chaudhary had a moment of pride.

Sandeep, the World record holder in F44 category, has made it to the Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia list in Entertainment and Sports category for the year 2020.

The 23-year-old Sandeep is also the only Indian in the category while some other young Indians including Devika Malik, also an international Para athlete and daughter of Paralympian and Paralympic Committee of India President Deepa Malik, have been named in other categories.

Devika, co-founder of Wheeling Happiness Foundation, has been shortlisted in the Social Entrepreneurs category.

Sandeep, who won a gold in F44/64 men’s javelin and bettered his own world record at the Dubai 2019 World Para Athletics Championships, is currently preparing for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games which has been postponed for a year, to Aug.24 to Sept. 5, 2021 owing to the novel Covid-19 outbreak worldwide.

“I am really very happy and honoured to make into the list of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia list. I am not able to believe it that I am the only Indian shortlisted in the Entertainment and Sports category for this year.

“This is a very proud moment for me and my support staff. I am also proud of myself for my hard work, that I could put my country among the 30 best Asian young sportspersons,” Sandeep told Paralympic Committee of India (PCI).

“As a Para Athlete, being recognised for my achievements also motivates me to do even better in my next Target which has been Tokyo 2020. Though we have to wait little longer now but the focus is still the same to win the gold in Paralympics next year,” he added.

At the Indonesia 2018 Asian Para Games, Sandeep won the first gold for his country, also with a world record effort. His disability falls in the F42-44/61-64 category, which relates to limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired range of movement. The athletes in this category compete with or without prosthesis. Sandeep doesn’t use a prosthetic.

Congratulating the athlete, PCI President Malik replied to Chaudhary’s (@sandeepjavelin) tweet on his Twitter handle: “For me it’s a triple delight. You, @devikamalik_394 and @thedivasushant, three of my bachchas are in the list.. Congratulations .. You are the future.. Keep working hard. Blessings.”

There was more joy for the Paralympic fraternity of India as Para badminton player Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj was appointed as the new District Magistrate of Gautam Buddha Nagar, UP.

Yathiraj, who is ranked world No. 2 in men’s singles SL4 category and an Asian Para Games bronze medallist, is an IAS officer of 2007 batch of UP cadre.