14-year-old Bhakti Patel from Auckland has wowed the community by winning four gold medals at New Zealand Secondary Schools Athletics Championship held in Hastings earlier this month.
Bhakti participated in the junior girls' category and won four gold medals in 100m, 200m, shot put and discus throw. Bhakti falls in the T39 disability sports classification and participated in the running and shot put and discus competitions.
Bhakti’s coach Pawan Marhas who is the founder CEO of AMMI School of Sports & Fitness in Auckland praised the spirit and fitness of Bhakti Patel stating the 14-year old is ‘unstoppable’.
Bhakti underwent 90 minutes of practice sessions thrice a week and had joined the fitness club just a few months ago.
“Bhakti practices very hard so that she can prepare for regional and national level athletic competitions. Just before the competition, she would plead to train for extra hours,” coach Marhas told The Indian Weekender.
Bhakti suffered a stroke at a tender age of 17-months and has been struggling with a medical condition called ‘Moyamoya NF1’. The symptom of this condition is that it slows down the body process, the brain cells swell up, and it affects the blood vessels, muscles and bones. Bhakti suffers from right-side hemiplegia, which means she has trouble moving the right limbs of her body.
Over the years Bhakti has improved her condition, but her disability never stopped her from her love for athletics. Bhakti practised her sports at Lovelock track at Wesley Community Centre in Mt Roskill, Lynfield College in Lynfield, Mt Smart Stadium, Messi Park in Papakura and Otara Parafit Gym in Auckland.
“We have encouraged her to follow her love for sports, whatever possible and that does not deteriorate her health,” Priti Patel told The Indian Weekender.
“Bhakti gets customised training at our institute considering her medical records and disabilities. She is a determined young sports person and has the ability to represent the country in international events such as Paralympics, world para athletic championships etc.,” Ms Marhas added.
“Since I started training with coach Pawan, I feel I can achieve something big in athletics,” Bhakti said.
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