Farman Basha

Farman Basha (born 25 March 1974) is an Indian powerlifter. Basha represented India at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, United Kingdom. He won a bronze medal at the 2010 Asian Para Games in Guangzhou, China. However, this was later upgraded to a silver medal after Iranian Mustafa Radhi was disqualified due to doping.[1]

Farman Basha
Farman Basha in Rio for the 2016 Paralympic Games
Personal information
NationalityIndian
Born (1974-02-25) 25 February 1974
Bangalore, Karnataka
Height1.55 m (5 ft 1 in)
Weight48 kg (106 lb)
Sport
Country India
SportParalympic powerlifting
Coached byVijay B Munishwar (national coach)
Medal record
Powerlifting
Asian Para Games
2018 Jakarta Men's 48kg
2010 Guangzhou Men's 48 kg

Personal life

Basha was born on 25 March 1974 in Bangalore, Karnataka, to a poor family. He holds a diploma in electronics and television engineering. He is married to Antonita Farman, a general category athlete.[2] Basha is afflicted with poliomyelitis, which he contracted when he was one year old. Due to this permanent physical impairment, he is unable to ambulate and uses calipers and a wheelchair.[3]

Powerlifting

Unaware of Paralympic sports, Basha used to compete in bodybuilding contentions. He started powerlifting after his neighbour introduced him to sport for persons with physical disabilities. The first event he participated in was the 1997 National Wheelchair Games, where he won a silver medal. This achievement encouraged him to "pursue the sport with even greater vigour".[2]

In 1998, Basha won a gold medal and set a new national record in the South Zone selection trials for the 1999 FESPIC Games (Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled), held in Bangkok, where he finished seventh overall. He won a gold medal in an event for non-disabled competitors in 2006. This feat "left the Powerlifting Federation of India [Indian Powerlifting Federation] so upset that" the Federation barred disabled athletes from competing in their events.[2] He represented India at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. He lifted 156.8 kilograms (346 lb) and finished at tenth spot.[4]

He was awarded with the Arjuna Award in 2008.[5] In 2010, he received the Ekalavya Award – Chief Minister's award for an outstanding sportsperson (for 2008) from the Governor of Karnataka Hansraj Bhardwaj at a ceremony in the Raj Bhavan.[6]

He is sponsored by a company with ₹5,000–5,500 per month and his wife, Antonita, contributes for rest of the expenditures.[7]

References
  1. "Farman Basha gets silver". The Hindu. 8 January 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  2. "Basha and the 'power' of his dreams". Hindustan Times. via HighBeam Research. 29 August 2008. Archived from the original on 28 March 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2012.  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required)
  3. "Athletes – Biographies – Powerlifting – India – Farman Basha". paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  4. "Results from weightlifting at Commonwealth Games". Associated Press. via HighBeam Research. 24 March 2006. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2012.  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required)
  5. Dasgupta, KumKum (8 September 2008). "Why are we so unsporting about the differently abled?". Hindustan Times. New Delhi: via HighBeam Research. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2012.  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required)
  6. "Ekalavya awards presented by governor". Daily News and Analysis. via HighBeam Research. 11 April 2010. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2012.  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required)
  7. Jhajharia, Devendra (22 August 2012). "High on spirit and guts – Farman Basha, Powerlifter". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
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