Get Kids Going! Ambassador, British Paralympic wheelchair rugby player, Ayaz Bhuta, MBE was recently awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton for services to sport and the community.
He said: “Truly humbled to be awarded with an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton. I graduated from the university in 2010 and it was amazing to be back receiving such a prestigious honor. Thank you to the university for making the day so special for me and my family”
Ayaz was part of Great Britain’s wheelchair rugby team who made history to win their first ever gold medal in the Tokyo Paralympics. Ayaz (pictured above with Jim Roberts and below with head coach Paul Shaw) said of the win: “We beat USA in the Paralympic final by 5 to clinch the Gold medal, the first ever in GB Wheelchair Rugby history!
“It’s been a crazy 5 years since the disappointment at Rio 2016 – losing funding, being dropped from the team, Covid and many injuries but it’s all been worth it!!!!!
“There’s so much I could say but I can’t find the words as I’m on cloud 9! Thank you everyone for all your support throughout these years, there’s too many to name but you know who you are.”
In January 2022 he was honored with an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honour’s List.
He said: “It feels good to be recognised and feels good that someone from Bolton like me, has this chance.
“Hopefully, it’s all the hard work that brings happiness to my family as well.”
We are so proud of Ayaz who has always been an articulate and inspiring presence for athletes at the Paralympics.
We would also like to congratulate the Great British Wheelchair Rugby Team for another historic gold-medal win. On Sunday 17 July 2022 at the World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, where they competed in the low-point wheelchair rugby event. Low-point rugby is another format of wheelchair rugby where only players with a classification of 1.5 and below can compete. Find out more about their win on Great British Wheelchair Rugby’s site.