Gold medallist shooter Avani Lekhara to be India's flag-bearer at closing ceremony of Paralympics
Tokyo, Sep 4: Shooter Avani Lekhara will be the flag bearer of country's contingent during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Paralympics, here on Sunday.
The 19-year-old trailblazer Lekhara had won a gold in R-2 women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event on Monday before claiming the 50m Rifle 3 Position SH1 bronze on Friday.
"Avani will be the flag bearer and there will be 11 participants from the Indian contingent during the closing ceremony," an official of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) said.
Lekhara, who was paralysed below the waist after a car accident in 2012, is only the Indian to win multiple medals in a single edition of the Games.
Before Lekhara, Joginder Singh Sodhi whad won a silver and two bronze medals in the 1984 Paralympics.
Another shooter Singhraj Adana joined the exclusive club on Saturday when he added a silver in P4 Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 event to the bronze in the P1 men's 10m air pistol SH1 event he won on Tuesday.
Shot-putter Tek Chand was India's flag-bearer for the Paralympics opening ceremony on August 24 after he replaced high jumper Mariyappan Thangavelu in the last minute.
Mariyappan, who won a silver here, was quarantined along with five other Indians after coming in close contact with a COVID positive person.
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Bhatkal: Graduation Day ceremony 2023-2024 held at Anjuman College
Bhatkal: The Graduation Day Ceremony for the academic year 2023-2024 was conducted on 22nd September 2024 at Anjuman Arts, Science, and Commerce College, Bhatkal. The event, organized by the Student Welfare Wing, honored the graduating students and recognized their academic achievements in a simple yet dignified ceremony.
The event began at 11:00 a.m., with students, their families, faculty members, and special guests in attendance. The program opened with a recitation of Quranic verses by Mr. Hisham Kazia, a final-year BCom student, followed by a welcome address by Prof. Aftab GM, the Chairman of the event. In his speech, Prof. Aftab applauded the hard work of the graduates and extended a warm welcome to all attendees.
Several notable guests were present, including the Chief Guest, Abdul Qadir Basha Ruknuuddin, former Senior Recruitment Officer in the Department of Health, Government of Dubai. The event was presided over by Sadique Pilloor, Vice President 1 of Anjuman Hami-e-Muslimeen. Other dignitaries included Ismail Jukaku, Additional General Secretary of Anjuman Hami-e-Muslimeen, Prof. Mushtaque K Shaikh, Principal of Anjuman Degree College, and Prof. Hibban Shabandari, Vice Principal of the college.
In his address, Chief Guest Ruknuuddin spoke about the rapidly advancing technology and its impact on various fields, including healthcare. He urged the graduates to continuously upgrade their skills, noting that the degrees they earned could become irrelevant without continuous self-improvement. Ruknuuddin shared insights from his 50-year experience in Dubai and highlighted the city's transformation under the leadership of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Ruknuuddin also emphasized the need for more professionals in medical technology in Bhatkal, particularly in fields like nursing, radiology, and dental hygiene. He suggested that students pursue short diploma courses to address the growing demand for skilled medical professionals in the region.
In his presidential address, Janab Sadique Pilloor stressed the importance of discipline and ethical behavior in both personal and professional life. He encouraged the graduates to stay connected with their alma mater and uphold the values they had learned during their time at the college.
The ceremony also recognized outstanding student achievements. Awards were given for academic excellence, sports, and co-curricular activities.
- Academic Excellence: Mohiddin Asbah, who secured the 9th rank in BCom at Karnatak University, Dharwad, received a cash prize of ₹10,000. Pooja Prakash Naik, who secured the 2nd rank in BA, was also awarded ₹10,000.
- Best Outgoing Students: Anzar Hussain (BCom) and Mavia Mohtisham (BA) were jointly awarded the Best Outgoing Male Student award, each receiving ₹5,000. Amruta S. Naik (BA) was named the Best Outgoing Female Student, receiving ₹5,000 as well.
- Perfect Scorers: Several students were recognized for achieving perfect scores in various subjects. Anzar Hussain received ₹5,000 for scoring full marks in five subjects, and other students, including Muizuddeen Dukandar, Mohammed Maan Ekkeri, and others, were awarded prizes ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 for their academic achievements.
Special Awards
- Amruta S. Naik was awarded ₹1,000 for being the Best NSS Volunteer.
- Mohtesham Maviya received a certificate as the Best Scout Rover.
General Championship in Sports
Sportsmanship was also celebrated with General Championships awarded in both male and female categories:
- Chaya Venkatraman Naik received the General Championship in Sports (Female Category).- The Male Championship was jointly awarded to Jasir Jamee and Syed Mubeen.
At the postgraduate level, Mr. Shreyas and Mr. Jairam Jattappa Naik were also recognized for their achievements in sports.
The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Prof. Manjunath Prabhu, expressing gratitude to the Chief Guest, dignitaries, faculty members, and students. The Graduation Day Ceremony marked an important milestone for the graduating students, celebrating both their academic achievements and their personal growth during their time at Anjuman College.
