Bringing pride to their institution, eight students from Chandigarh University have qualified to represent India at the Paris Olympics 2024, scheduled to take place in France from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
The talented athletes from Chandigarh University who have qualified 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). Their remarkable achievements have brought great honor to the university.
Bhajan Kaur, an 18-year-old BA student, earned her spot in the Indian archery squad by winning a gold medal at the World Cup Qualifiers in Antalya, Turkey. Kaur will compete in the individual quota, which is awarded to archers from the top-performing countries globally. Her outstanding performance, including a victory over Iran’s top-seeded Mobina Fallah, has made her a prominent figure in Indian archery.
Arjun Babuta, pursuing an MBA at Chandigarh University, has qualified for the Paris Olympics in shooting. Babuta secured a silver medal in the 2024 ISSF World Cup Shooting (10m Air Rifle Mixed Team). Yash, another CU student, will compete in kayaking, representing India at the Olympic Games.
Reetika Hooda, a BA student, has also secured her place in the Olympics. She previously won a gold medal at the Under-23 Asian Championship 2022 and is a renowned wrestling champion in India. Hooda’s achievements earned her a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Akashdeep Singh, a BP Ed student and native of Barnala, Punjab, will represent India in the men’s 20km race walking event. Singh won a gold medal at the Asian Race Walking Championships in Nomi, Japan, in 2023.
Sanjay, a BA student, will be part of the Indian hockey team at the Paris Olympics. He was also a member of the Indian squad that won a gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games.
Additionally, CU students Aruna Tanwar and Palak Kohli are set to showcase their skills at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Tanwar, an Indian Para Taekwondo athlete, is currently ranked fourth globally in the W-49 kg, K43 category. Kohli, a badminton player, won a bronze medal at the BWF Para-Badminton World Championship.
Chancellor of Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu, congratulated the students for their exceptional performances and emphasized the university’s commitment to holistic development. Sandhu highlighted CU’s state-of-the-art sports infrastructure, professional coaching, and a dedicated budget of Rs 8.5 crore for sports development. The university also offers the Major Dhyan Chand Scholarship of Rs 3.84 crore and provides comprehensive support to its athletes, including scholarships, special diets, sports kits, and coaching expenses.
Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade institution and a QS World Ranked University. Located near Chandigarh in Punjab, it is the youngest university in India to receive an A+ Grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). CU offers over 109 undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines, including engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, and more. The university is renowned for its excellent placement opportunities, recognized by WCRC as the institution with the best placements.