Ankur Dhama, the boy who defy all odds in his life is the country's first blind athlete who will participate at Paralympics this year in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. At the age of six, Ankur became completely blind when he was in Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh.
This 22-year-old, an MA student at Delhi University, will take part at middle-distance running at the Paralympics with his partner Vipin Kumar, a student of Nagpur University.
What Ankur has to say?
The boy has a personal best record of 4:17 minutes that he recorded at Sonepat last July. "If it's a very slow race, I don't mind leading. But if it's only slightly slow, I'll pick up pace in the last 200 metres," said Dhama.
What his partner has to say?
- His partner Vipin Kumar who hails from a farming family said, "To be a guide, I have to be 10 seconds faster than the runner. I compete independently and with him."
- It took him 30 years to get here
Vice-chairman of Indian Blind Sports Association KC Pande said, "It has taken 30 years to get here. We began organizing sports meet when sport for the blind meant three-legged and potato-races."
Achievements of Ankur
The boy took part at the Asian Para Games in 2014 and won two bronzes and a silver. He also qualified for the Paralympics at the Asia-Oceania championships in March this year in Dubai, as per the report.
Tags: Paralympics
Rio
Athelete
India
Participation
