Skip to main content
  • Accessibility
  • Headlines
  • Coronavirus-News
  • Get-Hooked
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Parasports
  • Ask Bhavna
  • NHBrandView
  • Independent Living
  • Lifestyle
  • NH Videos
×
Newz Hook – Changing Attitudes towards Disability Logo
  • Stories
  • Videos
  • Inclusive
  • NH Voice
  • Login
COVID-19 Notification by Government in Accessible Format

Accessibility Tools

Text Size:

Contrast Scheme:

  • C
  • C

Reset

  • Home
  • Parasports
  • National-level para sportsperson Anthony John seeks help for better quality wheelchair

National-level para sportsperson Anthony John seeks help for better quality wheelchair

Parasports November 23, 2019
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

A bike accident left Anthony John paralysed from the waist down in 2011. A sports enthusiast, he did not let this get him down and took up wheelchair throwball and basketball, winning many accolades. Anthony, who is the family breadwinner, is seeking financial help to get a superior quality Ottobock wheelchair so he can pursue his sporting dreams and support his family better.

In 2011, Anthony John was a college student pursuing a course in mechanical designing with his future all mapped out. Then a bike accident changed everything. Anthony was riding pillion when an autorickshaw hit his friend’s bike and threw him off. He sustained severe injuries to the spine and was left paralysed from the waist down. Doctors said he would never walk again.

Anthony was leading an active life, pursuing sports and academics in full earnest. He was an active footballer, having represented his school and college. ”I underwent many types of treatment in the hope that I would walk one day but got no positive response, which left me very depressed”, recalls Anthony, who was just 20 years old at the time.

It was his years as an active sportsperson that finally lifted him out of this state. While undergoing rehabilitation at the Paraplegic Foundation in Sion, Mumbai, someone suggested that Anthony pursue throwball. “In 2013 I played a national throwball tournament where we won the final which boosted my passion against sports, and a year later, in 2014 I started working as a customer service executive in an MNC”, says Anthony.

Sporting successes

The success encouraged Anthony to look at playing other sports. In 2017, a friend introduced him to wheelchair basketball and a year later he got a chance to take part in the 5th National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament in Coimbatore. “We didn’t win the game but made history by playing a match that went on for almost an hour while the total time for a basketball match is typically 40 minutes”, recalls Anthony. He was awarded the award of “Emerging Young Player of the Tournament’. He has played for the states of Goa and Gujarat.

Anthony has also led Maharashtra wheelchair cricket team, winning the award for ‘Best Batsmen” in the tri-series held in Mumbai between Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Anthony has started a fund raising campaign so he can get a better quality wheelchair to move around in.

My mobility is restricted due to non-availability of a good wheelchair. I cannot afford to buy a good wheel chair like Ottobock. This would help me in continuing my basketball and cricket practice as, I am aiming to be one of the top players in the Indian contingent, for various international events. A light wheelchair can help me in my daily routine. I can fold it and carry it by myself. – Anthony John, Wheelchair basketball & cricketer

With a better-quality wheelchair, Anthony is sure he can give his 100% on the field. His fellow player on the Maharashtra women’s wheelchair basketball team Jaya Vasant agrees. “This is so important for people like us. A better-quality wheelchair would give him his legs back. As a breadwinner of the family, this will make a big difference to Anthony”.

If you would like to support Anthony’s fundraising campaign, click here.

Watch in Sign Language

Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today

We need your continued support to enable us work towards Changing Attitudes towards Disability. Help us in our attempt to share the voices of people with disabilities that enable them to participate in the society on an equal footing!

Contribute to Newz Hook

NH Videos

Healing pain through art - Dr. Anubha Mahajan, Founder Chronic Pain India

Read more on Newz Hook

  • Accessibility,Independent Living
    New batches of Online Group Yoga for persons with blindness/lo-vision

Contribue to Newz Hook |Disability news. Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today.

Newsletter

 Subscribe to our Newsletter

Want to feature disability stories or share disability news with the disabled community? Write to:

editor@newzhook.com

Related News

Accessibility

New batches of Online Group Yoga for persons with blindness/lo-vision

Newz Hook - Accessible News

Download App Now!

Videos

View More

Education

Father-son bond inspires creation of edible candy models to make science accessible to blind kids

Get-hooked

Braille Blues Daddy, legendary blind guitarist & singer is no more

Get-hooked

Food delivery service ‘a bite better’ offers you delicious goodies cooked by talented disabled cooks

Get-hooked

Teen art prodigy Ansh's stunning watercolours show maturity, individuality

Newz Hook Logo

About Newz Hook

Newz Hook | Disability News - media site focusing on Disability Stories and Changing Attitudes towards Disability globally. We highlight disability news, offer inclusive solutions and create accessible collaborations. Our focus is to have Inclusion Champions from across the globe who will share disability stories and news.
Lets come together to change attitudes towards disability!

Newz Hook is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Follow us on:

Related Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Partner with Newz Hook
  • Embed Newz Hook Timeline
  • Affiliate disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Contribute to Newz Hook

Our Awards

Zero Project Award Winner 2018
Back To Top
© 2019 All Right Reserved. Inclusive News India Private Limited.

Ask Bhavna

All fields are mandatory unless specified as optional.