by Neil Bonnar, Bolton News

LEADING MAN: Ayaz Bhuta is one of the top wheelchair rugby players in Great Britain

BOLTON’S Ayaz Bhuta will take part in the inaugural BT National Wheelchair Rugby Championships in London this weekend.

The event, which marks the culmination of the season, takes place at the Copper Box Arena from tomorrow to Monday.

Bhuta, who is one of the leading players in the Great Britain squad, plays for the Southport-based West Coast Crash.

He is recognised as one of the top talents in the country and was named the player of the tournament by fans at the Wheelchair Rugby World Championships in Odense.

Born with Roberts Syndrome, which limits the growth of limbs, the 26-year-old Great Lever man is 3ft 7in tall and around seven stone.

Originally a wheelchair basketball player, the former Mount St Josephs School, Bolton College and University of Bolton student started playing club rugby in 2009, and found the more physical elements of the game suited him better.

Bhuta, a customer service adviser for a bank, was selected to play in a tri-nations tournament in Australia in 2010. He returned disappointed after being warned that his size meant he would be unlikely to succeed at international level but his persistence and determination saw him selected for the Great Britain development squad in 2011 from where he became one of the best players in the country.

In 2013 he made his full international debut at the Denmark Challenge Cup, where he was voted best in class.

The three-day national championships is free to the public and is supported by GBWR’s headline sponsor BT.

His Namaj-e-Janaja will be held at Bhadbhag Graveyard at 9:30 am tomorrow. May Allah [SWT] place him in to Jannatul Firdaush. Ameen.

Her Namaj-e-Janaja will be held at Hashamshah [RA] Graveyard after Asr prayer. May Allah [SWT] grant her the best place in Jannatul Firdaush. Ameen.

It is with great pleasure that we can announce that, following a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication of our young leader and brother Janaab Abdullah Yusuf Kamthi, the 3D images of the full facilities at the sporting venue for Greater Tankaria area are now ready.

According to the information available, a committee will be formed to oversee the venue and its activities. The committee will comprise of individuals with various skill sets and will be from each part of Tankaria as well as neighbouring villages.

This is not just good news for Tankaria, but all the surrounding villages too. This investment is likely to bring the best out of our rich sporting culture and traditions, as well as tremendous economic benefits to area.

We make dua to Allah (SWT) that this dream of ours comes true and we all unite behind such a marvellous project, which not only benefits our current generation but many generations to come.