Mandip Sehmi - BASA Outstanding Achievement Award

With just under a year to go until London plays host to the Olympics and Paralympics, one athlete is already getting into a winning habit.

THE 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be the place to be for athletes from across the world.

And there will be plenty of home support for the British team which will be competing in a number of disciplines.

Among the favourites to bring home a medal is the Great Britain wheelchair rugby team. Four years ago, they finished in fourth place after losing to eventual champions USA in the semi-finals.

One of the key players in the squad is Mandip Sehmi, who has been competing on the international stage for over six years.

And having tasted the glory and pain of the Paralympics in Beijing back in 2008, Sehmi is keen to experience the same thrill on home turf next year.

"The biggest moment in my life was representing Britain in the Beijing Games," said Sehmi, who is eyeing up a medal at London 2012.

"To represent your country at the highest level possible is every athlete's dream, so becoming a Paralympian has to be my biggest achievement.

"It was the most incredible experience ever and one I use every day to motivate myself,” said Sehmi, who is among a select few British athletes who have been transformed into cartoon characters who get to hang out with Olympic mascots Wenlock and Mandeville.

“Being part of Beijing, I know how special the Paralympic Games are and all I can say is that I'm working as hard as I can so that I can be part of the biggest, most special Paralympics our generation will ever see. London 2012 is going to amazing!"

Sehmi has not let his disability hold him back from enjoying life and being able to compete on an international stage against opponents from across the world.

The 30-year-old broke his neck and suffered a spinal cord injury in a car crash back in 2000. But he managed to find a passion for wheelchair rugby and said that taking part in sport changed his life for the better.

"Sport is so powerful, it keeps your body fit and healthy, your mind alert and it breeds confidence. My accident changed my life in ways I found very difficult. Sport changed these, and I found strengths I never knew I had.

"I really love what I do, I hope people can see what you can achieve and decide to get involved."

And Sehmi’s courage and talent on the court was recognised at this year’s British Asian Sports Awards (BASA), where he beat football coaches Bal Singh and Rikin Shah to land the Outstanding Achievement Award.

“I was speechless. It’s such a huge honour for me to receive the Outstanding Achievement Award, especially with two other strong contenders also in the category,” he said after collecting his trophy at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Park Lane.

"As a Paralympian it's great to get recognition from the Asian community. I was quite shocked to even get nominated. To be honest I never knew the awards existed before this year.

“I was in the States when I found out I was shortlisted at the time so it was great news to get from back home.

Sehmi added: "I think it’s great that British Asian athletes are being recognised for their talents and effort to being at the top of their games.

“Hopefully the people in the Asian community can see what can be achieved and be inspired to get involved in sport.

"Also parents can see that careers in sport can be very rewarding and can encourage their children to follow their dreams within sport too.

Sehmi has had an enjoyable 12 months, playing wheelchair rugby both in Britain and America as well as competing on the world stage.

"I won the Europa Cup with my team London Wheelchair Rugby Club.

“But even better was to win more caps with Great Britain and representing them at the World Championships in Vancouver would have to top the list of achievements in 2010."

By Zohaib Rashid