Havildar Soman Rana, a para-athlete of the Army Paralympic Node, Kirkee, which is under the aegis of Army Sports Control Board, has been selected for the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 in seated shot put, F-57 category.
The 38-year-old Rana is from Shillong and is an international para-athlete, standing second in the world ranking in his category. The Paralympics will be held at the conclusion of the Olympics next month.
While serving in the line of duty, Rana, on December 1, 2006, was injured by a landmine and lost his right leg.
Despite the loss of a limb, Rana fought his fears and kept himself motivated and determined.
In 2017 he was inducted into the Army Paralympic Node, which provides a platform for all serving impaired soldiers to pursue para-sports and develop a positive perspective in life. The node was created in the same year and, since then, its para-athletes have won 28 international and 60 national medals, representing India at the Asian Para Games, World Military Games, World Para Championship and World Grand Prix events.
This year, Rana, amid all the restrictions brought about by Covid-19, won the gold medal at the Tunis World Para Athletics Grand Prix and two gold and one silver at the 19th National Athletics Para Championship.
“Rana has done our country proud and is an inspiration for all the para-athletes in the Indian Army. He is one of the strong medal prospects to win a medal in Tokyo Paralympics 2020,” an army press release stated.
