LOK ISSUES

Arhan Bagati -This 16-year-old student makes an App for sportspersons attending Rio Paralympics

By LokMarg 30th August 2016

By Gorky Bakshi

Rio 2016 Paralympics that are scheduled from September 7 to 18 will have 18 Indian contingents and everyone is hoping to see an exceptional performance by the sportspersons. While most of us expect great performance, but not many can think of an App helping them. But, Arhan Bagati, a 16-year-old athlete from Gurugram, thought of an innovative idea as he developed a wonderful mobile app to assist the Indian contingent in the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. The App intends to give technical assistance to the players.

Till date, there was no such technical assistance available for our Para-athletes, while participants from other countries enjoyed these facilities. The app, called ‘InRio’, is loaded with useful information to help participants in moving around easily, get contact details, and much more. This App was recently unveiled by the Delhi lieutenant governor Najee Jung as he highlighted its utility for the Rio Paralympics.

Arhan Bagati History

He is a student of class 12, in a private school in Gurugram. Being an expert in technology, at such a young age, he has been trying to help people with disabilities through technology in his area. Arhan wanted to be a runner himself, but of his commitment to academic curriculum could not focus much on sports.

He has been in talks with the Paralympics Committee of India (PCI) for the past few years, and has been speaking with athletes to understand their problems and needs better. He has recently appointed the Awareness and Impact Ambassador by the PCI to promote the Games.

“My father is a businessman; he helped me a lot to nurture my talent. I convinced my father to fund the expenses of one of the participants this year.” Tapesh Bagati, Arhan’s father will fund one of the Indian para-athletes, this year.

“I started to work with the Paralympics Committee of India (PCI), which needed someone to make an audio-visual. I decided to take up the project,” Arhan explained.

Benefits of the App:

• Emergency contact details of the Indian embassy.

• Route maps to nearest disabled-friendly kiosks.

• Option to send SOS messages to specific numbers.

• In-built health monitor in which athletes will have to feed in some parameters and they will be able to check their performances.

• Food advice for the athletes.

• Profiles and details of fellow Paralympians for smooth communication.

• Information on restaurants and places to visit.

• List of Disabled-friendly gyms around the present location.

• Language translator.

The app will be updated every four years depending upon the location of a sporting event. Arhan may visit Rio along with the sports person, to lend his support and help them use the App. Mr Najeeb Jung and Union Minister of State (IC) for Sports & Youth Affairs, Sarbananda Sonowal were appreciative of the initiative by the young boy.

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