Chandigarh: Deaflympics gold medalist shooter Mahit Sandhu and international para table tennis player Poonam were honoured by the UT administration at Tagore Theatre on Wednesday for their outstanding sporting achievements.During the ceremony, the sports department awarded Sandhu a cash prize of ₹1.2 crore for scripting history in Indian shooting by winning gold in the 50-metre rifle event and setting a world record at the Tokyo Summer Deaflympics.Sandhu, who grew up facing hearing loss and school-level discrimination, entered the deaf sports category in 2024 after previously competing in open junior competitions where she won team gold at the Asian Championship.Speaking about the award, Sandhu said, “The recognition has strengthened my confidence and that of other sportspersons that achievements will be recognised and rewarded.” She stated that she plans to invest the entire ₹1.2 crore prize money into upgrading her rifle, buying barrel-tested ammunition, and training at foreign ranges.Para paddler Poonam, who was born with polio and overcame childhood discrimination, was also honoured after receiving a personal invitation from the governor.Poonam—an LLM graduate who began training in Sector 23 in 2009—became the first Indian international para table tennis player to win gold at the Thailand Open in 2011, later competing in two Asian Games, the Asian Para Championships, and world championships.Describing the governor’s invitation as a “dream come true,” Poonam said her journey taught her “the importance of continuing to dream despite the ups and downs of life.”
