Pranav Soorma Explained

Pranav Soorma (born 1994) is an Indian para athlete who won the gold medal in the men's club throw F51 event at the 2022 Asian Para Games at Hangzhou, China.[1] He also set an Asian Games record in the event with a throw of 30.01metres.[2] [3]

Background and education

Soorma hails from Faridabad, Haryana. He did his schooling at St. Paul's School, Delhi.[4] He completed his post-graduation from Delhi School of Economics.https://www.linkedin.com/in/pranav-soorma-3496297a/?originalSubdomain=in He works as an Assistant Manager in Bank of Baroda. In 2011 at the age of 16, Soorma met with an accident that injured his spinal cord.[5] His father, Sanjeev, quit his job to support his son to take up sports.[6] Athletes whose movement was affected to a high degree in the trunk, legs and hands are qualified for the F51 club throw event. They rely on their shoulders and arm to generate power and take the throw while seated.[7] Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated him for his resilience.[8] He is supported by sports NGO Olympic Gold Quest.

Career

Soorma won the Asian Para Games gold with a record on 23 October 2023. Earlier in 2023, he also won gold in the Serbia Open. In 2022, he bagged silver and gold at the Tunisia Grand Prix. In 2019, he won silver at the Beijing Grand Prix. In the inaugural Khelo India Para games, he improved his Asian record by throwing a distance of 33.54 for his gold medal in December 2023 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.[9] [10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: PTI . 2023-10-23 . Asian Para Games 2023: India's brilliant performance, Pranav Soorma, Shailesh Kumar won gold . 2024-01-16 . www.hindi.business-standard.com.
  2. News: 2023-10-23 . Asian Para Games 2023: Pranav Soorma, Shailesh Kumar clinch gold . 2024-01-16 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
  3. News: 2023-10-23 . Indians sweep all medals in two events to begin Para Asian Games campaign . 2024-01-16 . The Economic Times . 0013-0389.
  4. Web site: Duggal . Saurabh . Mr Wheelchair India, Banker, and now Para Asian Games gold medalist: Meet Pranav Soorma . 2024-01-16 . www.newsdrum.in . en.
  5. Web site: Sports Desk . Outlook . 2023-10-23 . Asian Para Games 2023: Who Is Gold Medalist Pranav Soorma? . 2024-01-16 . www.outlookindia.com.
  6. Web site: Banker Pranav Soorma's inspiring journey from spinal injury to gold in Para Asian Games . 2024-01-16 . Pixstory . en.
  7. News: PTI . 2023-10-23 . Para Asian Games Indians clinch 17 medals, including six gold, to begin campaign in style . 2024-01-16 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X.
  8. News: 2023-10-23 . Exceptional, monumental: PM Modi hails Indian athletes' performances at Asian Para Games . 2024-01-16 . The Economic Times . 0013-0389.
  9. Web site: Union Sports minister Shri Anurag Singh Thakur declares the Para Khelo India games closed . 2024-01-16 . pib.gov.in.
  10. News: Bureau . Sports . 2023-12-13 . Khelo India Para Games Pranav Soorma betters own mark to win gold in the men's F51 category club throw . 2024-01-16 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X.