Chandigarh Spinal Rehabilitation Centre Athletes Triumph at National Boccia Championship
The 10th National Boccia Championship 2026, held from January 27 to February 2, witnessed an extraordinary display of skill and determination as athletes associated with the Chandigarh Spinal Rehabilitation Centre dominated the competition, securing an impressive total of 11 medals. This remarkable achievement underscores the powerful intersection of rehabilitation, sport, and belief in transforming lives.
Boccia: India's Emerging Paralympic Sport
Boccia, a precision ball sport recognized by the Paralympic Games and often compared to chess for its strategic complexity, continues to fight for recognition and space in India's sporting landscape. Despite these challenges, for athletes like Ajeya Raj, Anjali Devi, Pooja Gupta, and Usha Kiran, boccia has become nothing less than a lifeline, offering purpose, community, and international opportunities.
BC3 Category: Precision Through Ramps and Resilience
Ajeya Raj, originally from Jharkhand and now based in Chandigarh, stands as one of India's most accomplished boccia players. Living with 100% disability and using a motorized wheelchair, Ajeya has previously earned nine national medals and two international medals from World Boccia Challenger events. Beyond his competitive achievements, he has emerged as a crucial mentor and advocate for the sport.
His influence is particularly evident in the journey of Anjali Devi (27), whose life took a dramatic turn after a spinal injury from an accident at age 18 forced her to discontinue her studies after Class 12. Life remained stagnant until she reached the Chandigarh Spinal Rehabilitation Centre, where she met Ajeya and discovered boccia in 2023.
What followed was a rapid and spectacular ascent. Anjali has since won five national gold medals, an international gold at the World Boccia Challenger in Egypt, and added two more gold medals in the individual and pairs events at the Federation Cup in Goa. At the latest nationals, she partnered with ramp operator Priyanka to win gold in both individual and pairs categories.
Meanwhile, Ajeya competed with his ramp operator Sandeep Kumar, securing silver in the individual category and gold in the pairs category. Both athletes excelled in the BC3 category, where participants rely on ramps and assistants to play, demonstrating exceptional precision and tactical thinking.
BC4 Category: Playing Through Pain, Gripping Hope
In the BC4 category, where athletes play using their hands despite limited strength, two women from the rehabilitation centre stood out with their extraordinary performances.
Usha Kiran, originally from Telangana, suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident in 2018. Following a recommendation from the Spinal Cord Injury Association, she came to Chandigarh for rehabilitation, where she was encouraged to explore adaptive sports. Watching Ajeya play boccia sparked her immediate interest. She purchased her own equipment, practiced relentlessly, and began competing nationally.
Her journey reflects remarkable grit and perseverance: bronze medals at the 2023 nationals in Delhi, additional podium finishes at the 2024 nationals in Gwalior, and finally, after just two months of focused training with a new electric wheelchair, she achieved gold at the 2026 nationals. Usha, who currently balances studies while her husband works with delivery platforms Zomato, Rapido, and Uber, now sets her sights on selection for the Asian Championships in October.
Equally compelling is the story of Pooja Gupta (35) from Rewari district in Haryana. Born with hereditary sensory motor neuropathy, a progressive neurological disorder, Pooja began using a wheelchair in her teens. For years, she served as the sole earning member of her family, working in the banking sector at Punjab National Bank, while her youngest brother lives with the same condition.
Introduced to boccia through social media and friends in 2020, Pooja has since built an extraordinary sporting career. She has earned multiple national gold medals since 2020, made international appearances in Poland, Rome, Hong Kong, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, and Australia, and competed at the Asian Para Games. At the 2026 nationals, she won silver in the individual event and gold in pairs, despite having no grip strength and playing by stabilizing her wrist.
"I never imagined I would play a sport, let alone represent India," Pooja reflects. "Boccia gave me confidence and purpose that transformed my life completely."
The collective success of these athletes from the Chandigarh Spinal Rehabilitation Centre not only highlights their individual triumphs but also demonstrates the transformative power of adaptive sports in creating opportunities, building community, and changing perceptions about disability in India.
