Campus Times |Lucknow

 In a major boost to inclusive sports and youth empowerment, 20 para badminton players from Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University have been selected to represent the state at the prestigious 7th National Para Badminton Championship–2026.

Sharing the update, Director of Sports and Yoga, Prof. P. Rajivnayan, said that the championship will be held from March 6 to 10, 2026, at the renowned Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad. He described the selection as a proud moment for the university and a reflection of the institution’s strong commitment to promoting para sports at the national level.

Meet the 20 Para Badminton Players

The selected players include Rahul Kumar Verma, Dharmendra Kumar, Krishna Kumar, Prahlad, Manoj Kumar Chauhan, Hamid Salmani, Harshit Pal, Shashikant Yadav, Alok Kumar, Nand Lal, Kanak Singh Jadaun, Usha Devi, Swati, Kum. Sarvesh, Ranjita Maurya, Afreen Bano, Sirajuddin Ahmad, Sanjana Kumari, Nilesh Yadav, and Satendra Kumar Yadav.

Ready for National Stage

In addition to badminton, four para athletes from the university will participate in the 24th National Para Athletics Championship–2026, scheduled from March 17 to 21, 2026, at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

The selected para athletes are Sonika Devi, Pradeep Kumar Verma, Kanak Singh Jadaun, and Prahlad.

Vice-Chancellor Acharya Sanjay Singh extended his best wishes to all the players.

Vice-Chancellor’s Statement

“This achievement is the result of the university’s inclusive education system and sports culture. Our players will certainly reach new heights and bring pride to the institution.”

With strong preparation and high spirits, the university’s para champions are now geared up to make a powerful mark on the national stage.