Calcutta: Para athlete Sanjeev Kumar Vaid, who'd been desperate for an ultralight wheelchair, won the doubles gold (in partnership with Frenchman Richard Perriot) and bronze in the singles in the Uganda Para-Badminton competition, which concluded in Kampala on Sunday.

Appropriately, the 31-year-old Vaid thanked benefactors Sandeep Jakhar and his 1994 batch of Ajmer's Mayo College, Virender Sehwag, coach Surinder Mahajan and Fazilka's district commissioner Isha Kalia.

Fazilka is on the border and Vaid's village, Telu Pura Dhani, is around 10 kms only from Pakistan.

With Jakhar taking the lead, his Mayo batchmates joined hands to fund the import of the new wheelchair, which weighs one-third of the old worn out one, from the UK.

Because of the wheelchair's weight factor, Vaid used to enter competitions with a distinct disadvantage.

That's over now.

Indeed, it was on the ultralight wheelchair that Vaid won the two medals, adding to those he has been winning in a decade-long international career.

"I'll always be indebted to Mr Jakhar and his Mayo batch and Sehwag ji... My coach and Isha Madam as well...

"A para athlete like me needs to be supported and each one of them has helped me in one way or the other...

" Sabko dil se dhanyavaad," Vaid told The Telegraph on Monday morning, shortly before starting the long journey back to India.

Speaking exclusively, Ms Kalia informed that as head of the Fazilka District Olympic Association, she'd sanctioned a grant for Vaid.

"Earlier too the Association helped Vaid, when he was struggling with funds. In fact, we do make an effort to help sportspersons who require assistance," Ms Kalia said.

As for Jakhar and his Mayo batch of 1994, an effort would now be made to help Vaid in his quest for glory at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.

Vaid's village is, by the way, very close to Jakhar's (Panjkosi).

Sehwag, whose March 1 tweet highlighted Vaid's need for a new wheelchair, has set in motion plans to fund his training for a year.

Hopefully, either the Union government or the government in Punjab will also take note of a josh-powered para athlete from a border district.

One just has to ask: Why should the Vaids be forced to run from pillar to post?