Indian Para-cyclists begin K2K ride

Para-cyclists posing for a group photograph before kickoff their expedition from Kashmir to Kanyakumari at Srinagar. -Excelsior/Shakeel
Para-cyclists posing for a group photograph before kickoff their expedition from Kashmir to Kanyakumari at Srinagar. -Excelsior/Shakeel

Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 19: Spearheaded by India’s first Para-cyclist and Limca Book of Records holder Aditya Mehta, Asian Para-Cycling Championship bronze medallist, Harinder Singh and Asian Games Track Cycling bronze medallist, Gurlal Singh today began their ride from Kashmir to Kanyakumari (K2K) as part of the ‘Infinity Ride 2020’.
They are accompanied by the country’s many other para-cyclists in a bid to raise awareness and reach out to para talents from across the country.
The ride, a brain-child of the Aditya Mehta Foundation (AMF) and supported by Border Security Force (BSF), took off from Nishant Bagh, Srinagar.
The ride which is set to end in Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari on December 29, was flagged off by Rakesh Asthana, Director General BSF from, here.
The Infinity ride aims to discover budding para-sporting talent across the country and nurture and prepare them to compete at the highest levels and represent India at the global stage.
The Aditya Mehta Foundation has been working with people with disability since its inception in 2013 and now powered with Asia’s first Infinity Para Sports Academy and Rehabilitation Centre which was established last year in Hyderabad.
“We are hopeful that Infinity Ride 2020 will ensure the required awareness among people and we will be able to get many aspirant sports persons who we can work with and make future-ready,” Aditya Mehta, founder of Aditya Mehta Foundation said.
The 2020 edition will cover 34 cities in 41 days. The Infinity ride, which is in its sixth year, is set to cover 3801 km long route comprising treacherous mountain terrains as they embark on this strenuous and challenging journey.
Notably, the foundation has 200 beneficiaries who have been given prosthetic limbs and customised adaptive devised for sports activities so far and has backed athletes who have won 90 international medals in various para-sports and tournaments.
The foundation also has successfully touched the lives of more than 1000 injured jawans and civilians, who have not only been rehabilitated but also motivated to excel as Indian athletes to win laurels for the country.