Three talented students from Chandigarh University (CU) are set to represent India at the Paris Paralympic Games 2024, which began on August 28 and will run until September 8. The athletes—Aruna Tanwar in taekwondo, Palak Kohli in badminton, and Yash Kumar in kayaking—have earned their spots through exceptional performances in both national and international competitions.
Athlete Achievements:
- Aruna Tanwar: A para taekwondo athlete, Aruna secured her place in the Paris Paralympics after winning a gold medal at the Asian Para Taekwondo Qualifiers Championship in Tai’an, China, in March 2024. This will be her second appearance at the Paralympics; she previously made a wild card entry to the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020. Aruna has also earned several other accolades, including gold at the Kimunyong International Para Taekwondo Open and silver medals at the Egypt Para Taekwondo Championship and various Asian Championships.
- Palak Kohli: At 22, Palak has distinguished herself in badminton, winning a bronze medal at the World Para Badminton Championship in Pattaya and gold at the BWF Dubai Para Badminton. She also clinched gold and silver medals at the National Para Badminton Championship in March 2024. Palak has been honing her skills since the age of 16 and has achieved significant success on both national and international platforms.
- Yash Kumar: Representing India for the first time in kayaking, Yash secured his place in the Paris Paralympics by winning gold and silver medals at the Asian Para Kayaking Championship in Japan in April 2024. He has also won multiple medals in national and international competitions, including a bronze at the 2023 Asian Para Kayaking Championship.
Chandigarh University’s Sports Excellence:
Chandigarh University has demonstrated remarkable achievements beyond academics, showcasing its strength in sports. The university has produced a significant number of athletes who have excelled in various national and international events. Notable achievements include:
- Asian Games 2023: CU students contributed to India’s medal tally, winning medals in sports like hockey, boxing, table tennis, wrestling, archery, and rugby. Pawan Kumar Sehrawat, a CU student, captained the Indian kabaddi team to gold at the Asian Games, ending an eight-year gold medal drought.
- Khelo India University Games 2024: CU secured the top rank with 32 gold, 18 silver, and 21 bronze medals, becoming the youngest university to achieve this distinction.
- All-India Inter-University Rowing Championship 2023: CU won the overall championship trophy.
- ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024: CU alum Arshdeep Singh emerged as a leading bowler, showcasing his talent on the global stage.
Institutional Support:
Chandigarh University is committed to sports development, investing Rs. 8.5 crore this year, which includes the Major Dhyan Chand Scholarship of Rs. 3.84 crore. This investment supports state-of-the-art infrastructure and professional coaching to nurture athletic talent.
Chancellor’s Message:
Satnam Singh Sandhu, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Chancellor of Chandigarh University, expressed pride in the university’s achievements and congratulated the students representing India at the Paris Paralympics. He emphasized that CU’s pursuit of excellence extends beyond academics to support and develop exceptional athletes.
For more details and updates, visit the Chandigarh University website.
