AMF Mission100 looking for para athletes

HYDERABAD: The Aditya Mehta Foundation (AMF) launched its ‘Mission 100’ campaign to scout, train and coach 100 top para athletes with an eye on a medal sweep in the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. Aditya Mehta, an Asian Games medalist and founder of AMF, announced this on Sunday while distributing `40 lakh worth of para equipment and funds to 15 athletes who have been training under his foundation’s aegis.  The money was raised through his 2017 Infinity Ride drive, an annual fundraising event that saw cyclist from India and different parts of the world participating in a ride from Hyderabad to Tirupati a couple of months back.

“When AMF started the Infinity Ride, we simply wanted to support our para-athletes with the right equipment,” Aditya Mehta said at the press conference that followed. “But over time, we realised that we had to revisit the entire Para Sports scenario from a national perspective. That is what prompted us to launch ‘Mission 100’ and find the most talented 100 para athletes who can represent India at the 2020 Paralympics. Now that we have embarked on this mission, we will scout for the best, train, coach and support them at every step so that they can represent India at the highest platform and amass more medals,” he added.

The 15 athletes who were beneficiaries at the launch included: World No. 20 in para badminton Abu Hubaida, India’s first female wheelchair tennis player Madhu Bagri, Asian para cycling team comprising of gold and silver medalists Abhishek Singh Shekhu, Divij Shah, Rehan, Vicky Mehra, Arya Vardhan, Bala Chandra, Goutam and Gurlal Singh and bronze medalist Harinder. Former World No. 1 para shuttler Anand Kumar was also presented with sponsorship worth Rs. 2 lakh whereas each of the cyclists were presented with 4.5 lakh worth hybrid cycles and Dura Ace carbon bikes for better results.

Madhu Bagri who has switched to cycling and is currently undergoing training for the upcoming Asian Championship was given a high powered hand cycle worth 3.5 lakh for her ongoing training. Trustees of the Foundation, actress and celebrity Regina Cassandra and advisor to AP Govt, Home Department K Durga Prasad, were present at the ceremony along with key supporters of the initiative, K Dinakar Babu  who gave away the equipment to the athletes in a touching ceremony. Tollywood celebrity Nani and popular South Indian actress SanjjanaGalrani  were also present at the event, pledging their support for the cause.