Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi felicitates Naib Subedar Hokato Sema , who clinched a bronze medal in Shotput at the recently concluded Paralympic Games in Paris.
Chief of the Army Staff felicitates Indian Army Paralympic athletes
KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 14 (MExN): Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi interacted with Indian Army Paralympic athletes, who participated in the Paralympic Games, Paris 2024, at the Army House, providing them with a significant motivational boost.
During this inspiring engagement, General Dwivedi praised their outstanding achievements and steadfast determination, reflecting the Army’s immense pride in their successes, a press release issued by PRO & Spokesperson, Ministry of Defence, Manipur, Nagaland ans Southern Arunachal Pradesh stated.
The felicitated athletes include: Subedar Soman Rana (Shotput), Subedar K Narayana (Rowing), Naib Subedar Hokato Sema (Shotput), who clinched a bronze medal and Naib Subedar Amir Ahmad Bhat (Shooting). Additionally, Simran Sharma, wife of Naik Gajender Singh, was also honoured for her bronze medal win in the 200m Athletics event.
Notably, Naib Subedar Hokato Sema’s bronze medal is the first for the Army Paralympic Node, building on the legacy of Murlikant Petkar, the first Paralympian medalist from the Army and the state of Nagaland.
Army Chief shared valuable insights and emphasized the importance of perseverance and excellence, underscoring the role of sports in building character and national pride. This interaction not only celebrated the athletes’ accomplishments at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024, but also reinforced the Army’s commitment to supporting their journey and pushing their limits as they continue to bring honour to the nation.
The press release highlighted that the Indian Army took a pioneering step in 2017 by establishing the Army Paralympic Node. This initiative aligns with the broader objective of nation-building through sports, recognising the critical role that athletic excellence plays in inspiring resilience and unity.
The Army Paralympic Node is designed to support and empower soldiers who have been injured in service, offering them specialised training and resources to excel in Paralympic sports.
Within a short period of time, Indian Army athletes have acquitted themselves admirably in various national and international sports competitions. The tally of 7 Medals at 4th Asian Para Games stands testimony, not only to the spirit of these specially-abled soldiers but also of the Indian Army’s commitment in providing them opportunities to excel.
For the first time ever, one athlete from the Army Paralympic Node won a medal at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024.