Former Navy Officer

Continues to Beat Odds After Stroke 

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.  American Forces Press Service LONDON, Sept. 9, 2012 - Many U.S. Paralympic athletes have persevered through tough circumstances and refused to give up after acquiring a disability. Steven Peace, center, a Navy veteran and 2012 U.S. Paralympic road cyclist, rides his first lap through a tough, looping course at the Brands Hatch racing track for the 24-kilometer road race during the Paralympic Games in London, Sept. 8, 2012. DOD photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.  Former Navy Lt. Cmdr. Steven Peace is no exception. He continues to beat the odds after a stroke left him without the use of the right side of his body.Following his 24-kilometer cycling road race at the Brands Hatch track venue here yesterday, where he placed fifth out of 19 competitors, Peace shared his story of personal triumph. "Five years ago, I had a stroke," Peace said. "My right side was paralyzed, and I had to do something to keep in shape, being in the military." Peace was 24 years old when he suffered the debilitating stroke at his San Diego home. He was not discovered for 14 hours, and as a result, he experienced loss of strength in his right arm and leg. "I spent 16 years in the military," he said. "I had planned on making it my career. And then the stroke [happened]. They kept me as long as they could – two more years." After he left the Navy, Peace picked up cycling after learning about the sport during rehabilitation at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego. The former lieutenant commander learned of Operation Rebound, a program designed for injured veterans, and took up the sport. The U.S. Naval Academy graduate spent five years in Japan during his 16-year Navy career, which also took him to San Diego; Norfolk, Va.; Annapolis, Md.; and Monterey, Calif. The Navy veteran said he faced many challenges as he committed to cycling. "I had some difficulty with my bike," Peace said. "[Since] my right side is not used, I had to find a way to shift all of the controls." Because he doesn't have the use of his right side, the cyclist added, he has to ride off-balance. "Two years ago, I wouldn't have been able to ride this course," he said. "But I slowly built up to it. I put on different things on my bike, and I pretty much said I could ride it." Peace offered his advice to other wounded warriors and veterans who may find themselves doubting their abilities because of illness or injury. "Don't ever give up," he said. "You never know how good you are until you get out there and you try to do it." Peace described his time at the 2012 Paralympic Games as an "unbelievable" experience. "I never thought I would have the opportunity to represent my country like this," Peace said. "It's great, and I love the USA."

Related Sites: U.S. Paralympics  Special Report: Military Paralympians

Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards Announced

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards
The Government has announced the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards for the year 2012, here today.

             A large number of nominations were received for these awards this year, which were considered by Selection Committee consisting of eminent sportspersons and sports administrators; headed by Col Rajya Vardhan Singh Rathore. Based on the recommendations of the Committee and after due scrutiny, the Government has approved to confer awards upon the following sportspersons.            

A.        Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award - 2012:

1.	Shri Vijay Kumar	Shooting
2.	Shri Yogeshwar Dutt	Wrestling

B.        Arjuna Awards 2012:

Sl. No.	Name	Discipline
1.	Ms. Deepika Kumari	Archery
2.	Ms. Laishram Bombayla Devi	Archery
3.	Ms. Sudha Singh	Athletics
4	Ms. Kavita Ramdas Raut	Athletics
5	Ms. Ashwani Ponnappa	Badminton
6	Mr. Parupalli Kashyap	Badminton
7	Mr. Aditya S. Mehta	Billiards & Snooker
8	Mr. Vikas Krishan	Boxing
9	Mr. Yuvraj Singh	Cricket
10	Mr. Sardar Singh	Hockey
11	Mr. Yashpal Solanki	Judo
12	Mr. Anup Kumar	Kabaddi
13	Mr. Samir Suhag	Polo
14	Ms. Annu Raj Singh	Shooting
15	Mr. Omkar Singh	Shooting
16	Mr. Joydeep Karmakar	Shooting
17	Ms. Deepika Pallikal	Squash
18	Mr. Sandeep Sejwal	Swimming
19	Ms. Ng. Sonia Chanu	Weightlifting
20	Mr. Narsingh Yadav	Wrestling
21	Mr. Rajinder Kumar	Wrestling
22	Ms. Geeta Phogat	Wrestling
23	Mr. M. Bimoljit Singh	Wushu
24	Mrs. Deepa Mallick	Athletics – Paralympics
25	Mr. Ramkaran Singh	Athletics – Paralympics

Normally  only one award of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna  is given every year to an individual sportsperson. However, the Scheme provides that this condition can be relaxed in exceptional circumstances viz., winning of an Olympic medal. Like wise for the Arjuna Awards, normally not more than 15 awards are to be given in any calendar year.  However, the Scheme of Arjuna Awards also provides that keeping in view the performance of Indian sportspersons in the Commonwealth, Asian Games and Olympic Games during a particular year, Arjuna Awards exceeding 15 in number may be allowed with proper justification and approval of the Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports.  The Selection Committee noted that 2012 is the Olympic year and India has won 6 medals in the London Olympics, which is country’s best performance in Olympic Games, and recommended that the condition of one award in case of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and 15 awards in case of Arjuna Awards may be relaxed and the number of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award may be increased from 1 (one) to 2 (two) and Arjun Awards may be increased from 15 (fifteen) to 25 (twenty five). 

 National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports.  Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for spectacular performance in the year under consideration; Arjuna Award is given for consistently outstanding performance for three consecutive years preceding the year of award.    

            Apart from a medal and a citation, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardees will receive a cash prize of Rs.7.5 lakh each and Arjuna Awardees will receive statuettes, citations and cash prize of Rs.5 lakh each. 

            The awardees will receive their awards from His Excellency the President of India at a specially organized function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 29, 2012. (PIB_ 19-August-2012 15:47 IST

London Olympic Bronze Medal winner

The President felicitates Smt. Mary Kom

The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee felicitates Smt. Mary Kom, the London Olympic Bronze Medal winner in Women’s Flyweight Boxing, at a function, in New Delhi on August 18, 2012.

(PIB photo) 18-August-2012

The Ministry of Sports felicitated heroes

Heroes of London Olympics 2012

Presents Special Cash Awards to Medal Winners 

The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports felicitated heroes of London Olympics 2012 at a function organized at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here today. Six medal winners namely, Mr Sushil Kumar, Mr Vijay Kumar, Mr Gagan Narang, Ms Saina Nehwal, Ms M C Mary Kom and Mr Yogeshwar Dutt  along with their parents and 47 Athletes  and 17 Indian and foreign Coaches who participated at recently concluded London Olympics 2012 were  the special guests at today’s function. Shri Ajay Maken, Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs & Sports presided over the felicitation ceremony, which was attended by  representatives of Indian Olympics Association, National Sports Federations, officials of the Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India ( SAI). More than 2000 young sports persons of  “COME & PLAY SCHEME” of  SAI and children from several schools added colours to the ceremony.
           At the function, six young talented sports persons of “Come & Play Scheme” presented cheques of Special Cash Awards to each of medal winners of London Olympics, 2012. The Cheques of cash award of Rs. 30 Lakh each to two Silver medal winners, namely, Mr Sushil Kumar and Mr Vijay Kumar and of Rs. 20 Lakh each to four Bronze Medal winners, namely, Mr Gagan Narang, Ms Saina Nehwal, Ms M C Mary Kom and Mr Yogeshwar Dutt were given away under the “Scheme of Special Award to Medal winners in international Sports events” of the Sports Ministry.
           After the felicitation function, six medal winners along with rest of members of Indian contingent to London Olympics  and more than 2000 young sports persons of “Come & Play Scheme” and school children marched to Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate  and paid the floral tributes to the martyrs.
           While speaking earlier at felicitation ceremony , Shri Ajay Maken, lauded the athletes and their coaches for their extra ordinary performance at London Olympics. Keeping in view, best results achieved under “OPEX London 2012” ,Shri Makan announced that a programme on similar lines “OPEX Olympics -2020” would be launched  with a target to get 25 Medals.  As a part of the programme, all athletes would be provided international and domestic exposure, foreign coaching and other infrastructural facilities, he added.
Brief Achievements of Medal Winners at London Olympics are as follows:-
a) SUSHIL KUMAR
India's star grappler Sushil Kumar won the men's 66kg freestyle category silver in the London Olympics.
Sushil thrashed Akzhurek Tanatarov of Kazakhastan 9-6 in the semifinals to become first India wrestler to reach the final of Olympic.  After taking 3-0 lead in the first round, Sushil was down by his opponent in the second round. However, the Indian wrestler fought back to score 6 points in the final round, finishing with the score of 9-6 at London's Riverbank Arena.  Sushil had earlier defeated Ikhtiyor Navruzov of Uzbekistan in his quarterfinal bout.  Sushil Kumar won his opening bout against Ramazan Sahin of Turkey, who had won the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
(b) VIJAY KUMAR
Army sharp shooter Vijay Kumar fought a nerve-wracking battle with five other top marksmen to clinch the silver medal in the men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event at the Olympic Games.
Vijay Kumar beat back the challenge of world champion Alexei Klimov of Russia, Chinese duo of Ding Feng and Zhang Jian and German Christian Reitz in the 40-shot final to finish runner-up in a thrilling finale behind Cuba's Leuris Pupo who shot his way to the gold with a world record equalling score of 34.
The 26-year-old Army subedar from Himachal Pradesh found the target 30 times out of 40 attempts in the series comprising eight rounds of five shots each.
(c)  GAGAN NARANG
Opening the medals account for India, Gagan Narang won the country its first medal in the London Olympics 2012. Narang bagged a bronze medal in the 10m air rifle event.
Narang has won numerous medals in the ISSF World Cups, World Championship, Commonwealth Games and the ASIAD, besides creating a new world record in 2008.
(d) SAINA NEHWAL
    Saina Nehwal gave India its maiden medal in Olympic Games badminton .
    Her opponent  folded up with a dodgy knee after leading 21-18, 1-0, but Saina was on the threshold of entering the zone from where she might have dominated this bronze playoff, getting her tiring opponent to play long rallies, even as she stumbled, slipped and asked for water breaks.
(e) MARY KOM
India's star woman boxer MC Mary Kom, fivetime world champion ensured a piece of history for herself and the country by fetching a bronze in the flyweight 51kg category.


"Magnificent Mary", from Manipur,   was the lone Indian in fray when women's boxing made


its Olympic debut in the London Games.
(f) YOGESHWAR  DUTT
Yogeshwar Dutt put up a brilliant display of powerpacked freestyle wrestling in the Olympic Games and won a bronze medal.
The 29-year-old experienced grappler from Sonepat in Haryana showed tremendous fighting spirit and exhibited excellent technique against three very strong rivals in the repechage rounds to clinch India's fifth medal of the Games.(PIB)                                     16-August-2012 17:57 IST