Chandigarh University Students all set to Make History at Paris Olympics 2024!

Excellence in Every Field: Chandigarh University proves Excellence as 8 Students Head to Paris Olympics 2024

The Chandigarh University community is dedicated to achieving excellence not only in the classroom and lab but also in the realm of sports. Developing the athletic abilities of aspiring athletes and helping them reach new heights in the national and international arenas is a vital component of the ecosystem this university fosters. Consequently, Chandigarh University students have been performing exceptionally well in national and international sporting events. Up to eight Chandigarh University students have achieved success by qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics, which will take place in France from July 26 to August 11, 2024.

Students from Chandigarh University who qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris include Bhajan Kaur (Archery), Arjun Babuta (Shooting), Sanjay (Hockey), Reetika Hooda (Wrestling), Akashdeep Singh (Race Walking), Palak Kohli (Para-Badminton), Yash (Kayaking), and Aruna Tanwar (Taekwondo). Bhajan Kaur, the rising star in archery, won the gold medal at the World Cup Qualifiers in Antalya, Turkey. Her outstanding performance secured her a spot in the Indian squad to compete in the Olympics. Kaur will compete for India in the Individual Quota event at the Paris Olympics. Individual Quota is awarded to archers from the top eight performing nations worldwide. 18-year-old Chandigarh University BA student Kaur outperformed top-seeded Mobina Fallah of Iran with a score of 6-2 (28-26, 29-29, 29-26, 29-29) in an exciting final. In the semi-finals, Bhajan Kaur defeated Alexandra Mirca, a Moldovan archer ranked 10th in the world, 6-2 (27-26, 28-27, 26-27, 27-26).

At the Hyundai Archery World Cup in Paris, France, and the World Archery Youth Championship in Limerick, Ireland, in 2023, Bhajan Kaur took home bronze medals. Additionally, she competed in the Medellin, Colombia, Archery World Cup (2023). Kaur's gold medal in the 41st NTPC Senior Recurve National Championship in 2022 has brought pride to the university and the nation. Before this, she had already won two silver and one gold medal in the Asian Grand Prix Circuit (2022).

Arjun Babuta, a fellow Chandigarh University student pursuing an MBA at CU, has qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris in the shooting sport. In the ISSF World Cup Shooting (10m Air Rifle Mixed Team) 2024, Arjun took home a silver medal. Another CU student, Yash, has qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris in the water sport of kayaking. In a similar vein, BA student Reetika Hooda has also earned a spot in the highly sought-after international competitions. Reetika previously took home a gold medal from the 2022 under-23 Asian Championship. Hooda is the second Indian to win a gold medal in the World Wrestling Championships under-23 division and the country's wrestling world champion. She had the privilege of meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a result of her incredible sporting accomplishments.

Akashdeep Singh, a Barnala, Punjab native and another CU student taking BP Ed, has been selected for the Indian Olympic team. In the 2023 Asian Race Walking Championships, which were held in Nomi, Japan, he took home the gold medal in the men's 20-kilometre race walking competition. Sanjay, a BA student who will play hockey for the Indian national team at the Olympics in Paris, competed for India in the 2023 Asian Games and won a gold medal.

In addition, two other CU students, badminton player Palak Kohli, who took home a bronze in the BWF Para-Badminton World Championship, and Aruna Tanwar, an Indian Para Taekwondo athlete who is presently ranked fourth in the world in the W-49 kg, K43 event category (which includes athletes with an impairment or amputation of both arms below the elbow), will also be competing in the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. "Apart from being a pioneer in the realm of academics, Chandigarh University also lays special emphasis on holistic development of its students," said Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chancellor of Chandigarh University, expressing his congratulations to the students for their outstanding performances, which earned them a spot in the Indian contingent to the Olympic Games in Paris. It is a momentous time for Chandigarh University as well as the nation, as eight of its students have been selected to represent India in the Olympics in Paris."

"In addition to having cutting-edge facilities for sports and hiring experts to help players develop their skills, Chandigarh University has set aside Rs 8.5 crore in funding this year to support sports development on campus which also included the Rs 3.84 crore Major Dhyan Chand Scholarship, the Chancellor stated.  Professional coaches and seasoned trainers supervise the development of aspiring athletes at CU, which offers state-of-the-art sporting facilities and equipment. In addition, CU offers monthly scholarships to athletes as a means of financial support. There are now 1183 students at CU who are eligible for scholarships, including 562 girls. Of these, 407 students receive 100% of their scholarships and the university pays for these students' special diet, sports uniforms, travel fees to sporting events, coaching costs, dorms, and other amenities.

Chandigarh University is ranked 1 in the world by QS and has an NAAC A+ grade. Being the first private university in Punjab and the youngest institution in India, it has received an A+ grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council. In the areas of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, and commerce, among others, CU provides more than 109 undergraduate and graduate programs. It has received the WCRC title of "The University with Best Placements."

Editor’s Note:

The Paris Olympics 2024 promises to be a spectacular event that brings together athletes from around the globe to compete at the highest level of sporting excellence. The selection of 8 students from Chandigarh University to represent India at the Paris Olympics 2024 is a momentous achievement that underscores the university’s dedication to fostering athletic excellence alongside academic prowess.  The relentless hard work, resilience, and comprehensive support system of the university presented these students globally. Chandigarh University proved why it is considered a ranked 1 university by empowering the students to compete among the world’s best athletes at the Olympics.

Skoobuzz congratulates all the achievers at the Olympics as well as commends the efforts of Chandigarh University which represented the Indian Flag globally.