Defying all barriers, Chaiti Rani Deb, a physically challenged girl from Sreemangal, Moulvibazar, is crossing national borders to participate in an international arena. This brave teenager is set to compete in the Asian Youth Para Games 2025, scheduled to be held in Dubai from December 7 to 14.
Chaiti Rani Deb (13), the youngest daughter of farmer Satya Deb from Bhunbir Union of the Upazila, was born with a physical disability. She is currently an eighth-grade student at Bhunbir Dasharath High School & College. While her height is only 3 feet 7 inches, the height of her dreams and courage is far greater.
Chaiti is the youngest of four sisters in her family. While her other three sisters are physically healthy, Chaiti has grown up battling her disability since birth. Her physical limitations have not deterred her-instead, they have filled her heart and the hearts of the local community with inspiration. Chaiti's international participation is not just a personal achievement but a matter of pride for Sreemangal and Bangladesh.
The National Paralympic Committee (NPC Bangladesh) has provided her with the opportunity to participate in this international sports competition, which is organised for athletes with disabilities, similar to the Paralympic Games. Physically challenged runner Chaiti Rani Deb is participating in this competition.
Chaiti wants to continue with sports alongside her studies. She dreams of bringing honour to the country through sports and proudly representing Bangladesh to the world. Her aspiration is to brighten the face of her locality and become a source of inspiration for the nation.
Dev Proshad Shil, a coach at Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) Sreemangal, said, "I have been training Chaiti in running in this area for a long time. Later, she got the opportunity to participate in the Para Olympics (100-meter) race in Dhaka and became the national champion there. Now, she is going abroad, to Dubai, to participate in the competition, crossing the national boundary. Her preparation is quite good. She will be in a camp in Dhaka for another month. I believe that if the government provides cooperation and support to talented individuals like her, they can go much further. It is truly a matter of pride for us that Chaiti will be representing Bangladesh on the international stage on December 7."
Sharmin Farhana Chowdhury, the Founder of Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI), stated, "We have been giving her regular training for the last three years. When I first met her, neither her family nor she was very interested. But with time, we have seen an extraordinary transformation in her. We believe that if society gives every disabled person like her encouragement and opportunity, they, too, can go a long way based on their abilities."
She emphasised, "It is essential for everyone to be aware that family members and local people should not create any obstacles to girls participating in sports. Without their cooperation and collective effort, we will not be able to bring out the hidden talents within girls. Special assistance for girls is extremely necessary."
She further added, "Even if Chaiti does not become a champion, the fact that she will have the experience of visiting Dubai will further inspire the girls in her surrounding area. It is through this inspiration that we will be able to find more talented players in the future, and increase the interest in sports among girls in the surrounding areas and those facing physical challenges, like Chaiti. Chaiti's journey to Dubai is a major positive achievement, not only for our organisation but also for the entire country. If Chaiti wins, Bangladesh wins-in fact, her very presence there is our greatest success."
This massive sporting event is mainly organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC). Approximately 1,500 young athletes from 45 Asian countries will participate in it. The main slogan of the competition is "Born to Rise."
