Tokyo 2020: Abhinav Bindra sure that Indian Paralympics contingent will 'inspire' people

Grinding out in his 20s in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Mumbai Indians (MI) and domestic cricket for Mumbai, Suryakumar struggled to make it to Team India, watching many of his peers get a national cap. Despite a purple patch in the IPL from 2018-2020, which saw him score 400-500 runs consistently, India's very own 'Mr 360' struggled to catch selectors' attention. But when he finally did at the age of 30, his next five years saw him live out a decade worthy of career highs and lows, making him one of the most intriguing figures of Indian cricket.

On Sunday, India's men's cricket team is set to clash with New Zealand in the summit clash of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 as the Men in Blue aim to defend their title and become the first-ever side to win the title in front of the home crowd.

At present, 120 anganwadis involved in the programme are run entirely by women, who have together conducted more than 1,200 OVEP sessions. The initiative has strengthened the role of anganwadi workers as educators and community leaders by equipping them with tools to teach values such as fairness, teamwork and respect through sport-based activities.

The 25-year-old sprinter, who has brought laurels to the country through her achievements in para-athletics, was honoured for her accomplishments, including winning a bronze medal at the Paralympics and being a recipient of the prestigious Arjuna Award.

Preethi spoke to ANI on the sidelines of the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year awards. Preethi was honoured with the 'Para Sportswoman of the Year' award for her exceptional recent performances, including two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.