Proud on u Brother..... Major (Dr) Surendra Poonia – A Medico Who Created Sporting Records Posted by Medicos India Team on Jun - 20 - 2014 Categories: Features, Weekly News Major (Dr) Surendra Poonia Doctors are custodians of our health. It is them we turn to for any matter related to our fitness, so it is only expected for a doctor to be hale and hearty himself…but the level of fitness Major (Dr) Surendra Poonia has surpasses all expectations. He is a Limca Record Holder of most international sport medals won by any Indian doctor, has represented India in 4 World Championships and is also Indian’s first power-lifter to win 4 consecutive gold medals. Vishist Seva Medal awarded by the President of India, Big Reliance Most Entertaining Sportsman of the year -Jaipur 2013, Chief of Army Staff Commendation Medal recipient 3 times for meritorious military service in India and abroad,5 Gold,8 Silver and 2 Bronze Medals at World Medical and Health Games (2010-2012), Best Student Award in Young officer’s Course at Officer’s Training Academy, (Lucknow-2002), Mr AFMC- these are just some in the long list of awards and recognition that Maj (Dr) Poonia has been honored with. However, upon coaxing, he admits that some of them are a little more special for him, “All my awards are hard earned but my first International medal at Croatia in 2010 was my proudest moment as I was representing India and when I was given the medal under our Indian tricolor, I felt like I was in heaven! Getting the Vishist Seva Medal by President Pranab Mukhejee for ‘Distinguished Service of an Exceptional Order’ in the field of Sports is very close to my heart too.” Maj (Dr) Poonia had always dreamt of serving the Indian Army. So, when he got the opportunity to join Pune’s prestigious Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), he did so without a second thought. He maintains that this was one of the best things to happen to him. AFMC was a turning point in his life. He says, “I am sportsman by default. In AFMC, my seniors noticed that I am a good athlete and they motivated me further. My sports officer, Col Rajbir Singh and Col PK Singh helped me in getting proper coaching from Army Sports College and Army Sports and Physical Training Centre, Pune. There I met my coaches, Mr Chouhan and Mr Indra Singh, who helped me professionally. It was basically AFMC that made me a good sportsman.” Not only was his fitness noticed and he walked away with the titles of Mr AFMC, Best Athlete, Best Sportsman etc. but he also selflessly and tirelessly worked as a physician and served the country. In 2001, he was commissioned in the Indian Army following which he interned at the Ambala Cantonment’s Military Hospital. After that, he did his Medical Officer Basic Course (MOBC) from the AMC Centre and School, Lucknow. He topped the course. Maj (Dr) Poonia says, “After my Internship, I volunteered for India’s best Combat regiment -Special Forces and did my probation for 6 months to become a paratrooper. I served in 60 Parachute Field Ambulance and then went to 2 Para Special Forces in Jammu & Kashmir. After a year, I joined 10 Para Special Forces in Jammu & Kashmir. In Kashmir I served in various counter insurgency operations with my comrades in arms. In 2006, I got the Army Chief Gallantry medal for saving the lives of 16 soldiers who were hit by militants’ bullets.” He emphasizes that as an Army doctor, one has to be- a- Mentally tough b- Physically robust to work under stressful environment c- A Team man d- Mentally prepared to work in and with any type of environment, terrain,situation, people e- Of nationalistic spirit- the comfort and lives of your soldiers come first, no matter what. f- Mentally prepared to stay away in field for long time. Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara, Shopian, Anantnag, Bandipur, Siachen Glacier- Maj (Dr) Poonia has served them all. Then came his international stint; He was selected for the UN Peacekeeping Mission which saw him head to Congo for a year with 5 Para Airborne Special Forces. “After the UN Mission, I got selected as a doctor in Rashtrapati Bhawan as part of The President
Posted on: Sun, 22 Jun 2014 12:54:50 +0000
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