World Championship bound: Ludhiana’s lone wheelchair shuttler Shabana seeks support, in race against time.

Ludhiana: Shabana, an international para-badminton star and the only female wheelchair player from the district, has qualified for the prestigious Para Badminton World Championship in Bahrain. However, with the competition set to begin on Feb 8, she faces a race against time to secure the ₹2 lakh needed for travel, visa, and equipment.Shabana, who serves as a district icon for PWD voters alongside her husband and fellow player Ashwani Kumar, has appealed to Deputy Commissioner (DC) Himanshu Jain for financial assistance. The plea comes with a looming deadline: she must submit her visa and ticket details by Jan 25 to confirm her participation.A "Miracle" Qualification via EgyptShabana's journey to the World Championship was made possible by a recent "clutch" performance at the Egypt Para Badminton International (Jan 13-18). She credited her ability to compete there entirely to the DC's previous financial intervention. "I give all the credits for this achievement to the support from DC Himanshu Jain. Without that initial help for Egypt, I wouldn't have qualified for the World Championship," Shabana stated. "I am requesting his help once again to make the country proud and inspire others with disabilities."The Funding GapCompeting at the international level on a wheelchair requires specialized logistics and high-end equipment. The estimated ₹2 lakh expense covers international airfare to Bahrain, specialized wheelchair maintenance and sports equipment, visa fees and tournament accommodation.Administration's ResponseResponding to the appeal, Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain, IAS, expressed his commitment to supporting local talent. "I will check the requirements and forward the details to the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) department," Jain told the Times of India. "The district administration will try and provide the best possible assistance, as we did last time."Achievements at a GlanceAt the national level, she won multiple medals across state and district competitions. At the international level, her recent successful stint was in Egypt, where she qualified for Bahrain 2026. In the arena of public service, she was appointed as a District Icon to encourage voter participation among persons with disabilities.