Army-run ASHA rehabilitation centre’s Ayusman Mahanta selected for national athletics trials

Ayusman Mahanta, a special child from the Army-run ASHA Rehabilitation Center, Narangi Military Station, has been selected for the Athletics Championship National Trial 2025, marking a significant milestone in his sporting journey. He will compete in the Sub-Junior category in the 100 metre and 200 metre events, with the trials scheduled to be held at New Delhi in February 2026.

Hailing from Nagaon district of Assam, Ayusman is the son of Late Debajit Mahanta and Smt Purabi Mahanta, and is supported by his family, including his brother Pahi Mahanta.

Ayusman joined the Army-run ASHA Rehabilitation Center on 1 July 2024, where his interest in sports was identified and nurtured. His competitive journey began in October 2024 through events organised by the Special Olympics Bharat (SOB), Assam Chapter, where he secured podium finishes, setting the stage for his rapid progress. In 2025, he won Gold Medals in the 100 metre and 200 metre races at Khel Maharan 2.0 & the 5th All Assam Para Sports Meet organised by the Paralympic Association of Assam, and added Gold and Silver Medals in sprint and relay events at other State-level competitions.

With regular training at Special Olympics Bharat facilities and focused coaching at Narangi Military Station through the Army-run ASHA Rehabilitation Center, Ayusman progressed from grassroots participation to national-level selection.

Determined to scale greater heights, Ayusman aspires to represent India at the international level, inspired by the words of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam: “Excellence is a continuous process, not an accident.”