Telangana Governor honors AMF para-athletes

Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla felicitated para-athletes at the Aditya Mehta Foundation in Hyderabad. The foundation distributed ₹3.46 crore in financial support and high-performance adaptive equipment to empower disabled athletes ahead of major international competitions

Hyderabad: The Governor of Telangana, Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla, felicitated the para-athletes of the Aditya Mehta Foundation (AMF) at the Infinity Para Sports Academy & Rehabilitation Centre here for their stellar achievements in national and international competitions.

The event brought together para-athletes, beneficiaries, philanthropists, government officials, supporters, and community members to celebrate excellence in para-sports. It also served to reaffirm a collective commitment toward empowering persons with disabilities through sports and rehabilitation.

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Dignitaries on the dais included K.E. Shyam Kumar, MLA, Pattikonda (Andhra Pradesh); Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Special Chief Secretary to the Government of Telangana (HMDA); Anjana Sinha, IPS (Retd.), former Director General of Police, Andhra Pradesh, and Trustee of the Aditya Mehta Foundation; Dr. A. Sonibala Devi, IFS; Lakshmi Manchu, philanthropist and mentor to the Aditya Mehta Foundation; and Shilpa Reddy, philanthropist, fashion designer, and Trustee of the Aditya Mehta Foundation.

During the event, the AMF extended financial support totaling ₹3.46 crore to para-athletes across India. Out of this, ₹1.78 crore was directed toward facilitating participation in national and international tournaments, explicitly benefiting the Indian Para-Cycling Team, the Indian Para-Shooting Team, and other elite athletes preparing for major global events.

In addition, adaptive sports gear, customized prosthetic limbs, specialized bicycles, handcycles, training aids, and other assistive devices valued at ₹1.68 crore were distributed to para-athletes from various states to enable high-performance training and competitive excellence.

The Foundation also honored a distinguished group of para-athletes for their exceptional international contributions. Among the honorees were Arshad Shaik, India’s first male para-cyclist to represent the nation at the Paris Paralympic Games 2024; Lisha Das and Vishva Vasani for their outstanding achievements in para-cycling; H.U. Shivani and Jyoti for their accomplishments in para-athletics; and Prashant for his international milestones in handcycling.

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla lauded the AMF’s efforts in carving out opportunities for persons with disabilities, emphasizing the crucial need for inclusive infrastructure, quality training, comprehensive rehabilitation services, and equal opportunities for all. He highly commended the Foundation’s unyielding commitment to nurturing para-athletes and funding their dreams on the global stage.