But the sports fraternity in Odisha strongly believes that the State’s second most decorated para-badminton international Deep Ranjan Bisoyee and the renowned woman para-athletics international Jayanti Behera should have been given berths in the Indian contingent.

Bisoyee has bagged 21 international medals, including four gold and four silvers since November 2021. With Uttarakhand partner Manoj Sarkar, he is now ranked World No 1 in men’s doubles SL3-SL4 category.

Ace sprinter Jayanti has the credit of winning 15 international medals, including five gold since March 2022. She also bagged the best woman para-athlete award at the 22nd National Para Athletics Championships earlier this year in Goa.

But as they say, selection is a matter over which athletes have no control. They depend on the judgement of the officials of Paralympic Committee of India (PCI). However, neither PCI nor the Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs has not disclosed how many officials would represent India at the Paris Paralympics. Why???
----------------------------------------------------------------- PICS -----------------------------------------------------------------
TOP: Para-badminton international Deep Ranjan Bisoyee (Left) with his partner Manor Sarkar.
RIGHT: Woman para-athletics icon Jayanti Behera.