Sixteen-year-old Sandeep Shalu, a shot putter and discus thrower, was the proud chief guest yesterday in a Republic Day function celebrated in Sham Nagar by NGO Baba Vishvkarma Dal. Shalu hoisted the National Flag and, apart from him, nearly 25 other blind students from the entire state who had won medals in different games were honoured at the event for their achievements.

While speaking after the flag hoisting ceremony, Shalu made everyone’s eyes wet when she narrated her story. Shalu said, “My mother is also visually impaired and my father could not tolerate that her newborn daughter was also blind. So at the age of three years, I was turned out of the house along with my mother.”

Jaswinder Kaur, mother of Shalu, said that she was married to a truck driver in Kila Raipur and her parents belong to Moga. So after her husband deserted her, she went back to her parents’ place where she started sending her daughter to a normal school. Over the years, Shalu’s grandfather and uncle expired and the family came to know about the vocational rehabilitation centre (VRTC) in Ludhiana. So both shifted in Ludhiana VRTC about five years back where they are living free of cost. Shalu is a class 10 student now while her mother is training as a telephone operator at the centre. Shalu started practising for discus throw and shot put in VRTC.

Since 2008, Shalu has been participating in discus throw and shot put and she has won many medals. The most recent one was a bronze medal in Panchkula in the National Games organised by Indian Blind Association. Gurpreet Singh, President of Punjab Sports Association, said, “More than 800 players took part in these games and she won bronze in discus throw. Apart from this, she had won silver in the 2008 National Games for blind and several other medals.”

Karnail Singh Tatla, President of Sewa Dal and Gurnam Singh Kler, general secretary, said, “We feel honoured to be with such talented players. This was the best way to celebrate Republic Day.”