Army, police rush Kashmiri para-athlete to represent India

Kochi: It was a script that none believed will become reality -- a near-impossible task of getting a young girl, Ishrat Akther, from out of one of the worst-affected terror spots in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla to Chennai -- and that too at the height of the restrictions imposed in the valley.

Not only was it achieved within 48 hours by personnel of the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police, but the 20-year old also got selected to represent India and all this made possible by retired defence personnel who got technology to aid prayers of the bravehearts.

Akther is paralysed from waist below. She had a fall in 2016 but despite her physical disabilities, is a very good Wheelchair Basketball player and at the end of the trip in Chennai, she was selected to represent India for the pre-Olympic qualifying tournament to be held in Thailand in October.

Akther who reached here on Sunday told IANS that everything happened very swiftly which now seems almost unbelievable.

"I had no clue how things turned out for me since August 26. When I was told I have to reach Chennai for the selection camp, I never knew it would happen.

But, somehow things turned out right for me, even though I was excited, I was a bit apprehensive, as I did not know anyone who could helped me reach Chennai.

But, now everything has fallen into place and am so happy that I don't have words to express it," said Akther.

The beauty of the whole operation was that, everything was worked out by a few old boys of the Sainik School Kazhakootam, Thiruvananthapuram -- all retired defence personnel -- with the key man, Col.

Isenhower, who seamlessly mobile-controlled it from his home at Kothamangalam, about 100 km from here to reach the girl.