Visually impaired Gurbir does the city proud

Our Sports Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 5

Gurbir Singh Dehlon, a visually impaired athlete from Ludhiana, has brought fame to his parents and the coach by clinching two medals in the recently held Para National Athletics Championship.

Gurbir, a total blind athlete, participated in this championship held at Panchkula where he finished at the victory podium in two events. He finished ahead of others to annex gold medal in the 400-metre race besides winning bronze in the 200-metre race.

Gurbir has been practising under the watchful eyes of athletics coach of Punjab Sports Department Sanjeev Sharma at Guru Nanak Stadium. Vikas and Sunil Thind assist him as runners.

For his guidance to perform well in this national championship, Sanjeev was felicitated at a function here on Thursday. The function was organised by the Punjab branch of the National Federation of the Blinds (NFB) in association with the Bharat Netarheen Sevak Samaj, Gill Road, Ludhiana.

Joginder Singh Jangi, a sports promoter and general secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, along with Gurpreet Singh Chahal, spokesperson for the NFB, its president Vivek Monga and general secretary Balwinder Singh honoured coach Sanjeev Sharma besides Gurbir’s runners, Sunil Thind and Vikas.

Jangi appreciated the coach for training well this special athlete. He said he would urge the Director, Sports, to honour the coach suitably who had produced many players of eminence.

Sanjeev lauded Gurbir for his patience, hard work and cooperation which eventually helped him excel in the national championship. “Gurbir is a regular trainee and imparting coaching to such players provides satisfaction. And when they achieve the goal, the contentment turns double,” he added.