| Country (sports) |  India |
|---|---|
| Residence | Bangalore |
| Born | 14 May 1972 Bangalore, Karnataka |
| Turned pro | 1993 |
| Plays | Left Handed |
| Official website | www.stephanehoudet.com |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 50–86 |
| Career titles | ?? |
| Highest ranking | No.17 (25 June 2007) |
| Current ranking | No.48 (28 August 2014) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 14-39 |
| Career titles | ?? |
| Highest ranking | No.19 (29 July 2013) |
| Current ranking | No.38 (28 August 2014) |
| Other doubles tournaments | |
H. Boniface Prabhu
Harry Boniface Prabhu is an Indian quadriplegic wheelchair tennis player, one of the pioneers of the sport in India[2][3] and a medal winner at the 1998 World Championships.[4] He was awarded the Padma Shree, the fourth highest civilian award, by the Government of India, in 2014
Biography
Boniface Prabhu was born to Harry J. Prabhu and Fathima Prabhu, on 14 May 1972, at Bangalore, in the south Indian state of Karnataka, as a normal child like his two brothers, Jerry and George.[6] The tragedy struck at the age of four, when a blotched lumbar puncture made him a quadriplegic for the rest of his life. However, he was brought up by his parents as a normal boy, sending him to institutions for normal children which helped the young Boniface to take up life as any competitive person would.[2][7]
Boniface Prabhu is the founder of a trust, Boniface Prabhu Wheelchair Tennis Academy, based in Bangalore, with the aim of promoting the physically and intellectually challenged people and providing them with opportunities to nurture their talents.[4] The Academy provides free sports training to differently enabled people.[8]
He took to the cause of PWDs with ThumbsUp by driving 3,500 km from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.[9] This first of its kind road expedition by a quadriplegic athlete.[10]
Boniface is married to Christina and the couple has a daughter, Simone Diya.
Sporting career
Though Boniface's principal claim to fame is wheelchair tennis, he has excelled in other disciplines, too. He has represented India, at International events, in six disciplines, over 50 times. These include athletics, shot put, badminton, javelin throw, table tennis, shooting and discus throw, apart from wheelchair tennis.[2][4] His foray into international sports was at the 1996 World Wheelchair Games, UK where he won gold medal in shot put and silver medal in discus throw. Two years later, he repeated the feat at the 1998 Paralympics World Championships, participating in javelin, shot put and discus throws.[8] He is the first Indian to win a medal in the International Paralympic Games.
Awards and recognitions
- Padma Shri - Government of India - 2014[5]
- Prathiba Bhushan[4]
- Rising Star of the Millennium Award[4]
- Ekalavya Award - Government of Karnataka - 2004[4][14]
- Rajyotsava Award - Government of Karnataka - 2003[4][15]
- Swabhiman Appreciation Award - Daijiworld Weekly - 2011[2][4]
Boniface is the brand ambassador of India for wheelchair sports. He is also the brand ambassador for many commercial products.[2][4][16]
Arjuna award controversy
In 2005, The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, reportedly informed Boniface that he had been selected for Arjuna Award, the second highest award for excellence in sports, given by the Government of India.[11][13] However, when the awards were announced, Boniface did not feature in the list. It was repeated for two years and in 2007, the apparent negligence yielded comments in the media. Boniface himself wondered why physically disabled sportspersons were being ignored.[17] He has not received the Arjuna award till date.
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