H. Boniface Prabhu

Harry Boniface Prabhu is an Indian quadriplegic wheelchair tennis player, one of the pioneers of the sport in India and a medal winner at the 1998 World Championships. He was awarded the Padma Shree, the fourth highest civilian award, by the Government of India, in 2014.

Biography Boniface Prabhu was born to Harry J. Prabhu and Fathima Prabhu, on 14 May 1972, at Bangalore, in the south Indian state of Karnataka, as a normal child like his two brothers, Jerry and George. The tragedy struck at the age of four, when a blotched lumbar puncture made him a quadriplegic for the rest of his life. However, he was brought up by his parents as a normal boy, sending him to institutions for normal children which helped the young Boniface to take up life as any competitive person would.

Boniface Prabhu is the founder of a trust, Boniface Prabhu Wheelchair Tennis Academy, based in Bangalore, with the aim of promoting the physically and intellectually disabled people and providing them with opportunities to nurture their talents.

He took to the cause of PWDs with ThumbsUp by driving 3,500 km from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

Boniface is married to Christina and the couple has a daughter, Simone Diya. Winner - Singles - Florida open - 2004 Winner - Doubles - Florida open - 2004 present ranking being no. 2. He is the no. 1 player in India. Rajyotsava Award - Government of Karnataka - 2003 Swabhiman Appreciation Award - Daijiworld Weekly - 2011

Arjuna award controversy In 2005, The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, reportedly informed Boniface that he had been selected for Arjuna Award, the second highest award for excellence in sports, given by the Government of India. He has not received the Arjuna award till date.