Bedford man and Royal Navy submariner, Nisar Utmanzai has been selected to be part of Team UK at the Invictus Games in Canada in 2025, the first time the games will include winter sports.
In partnership with the MOD, the Royal British Legion (RBL) has revealed a 64-strong team, of wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans, of which Nisar is one and who will compete in skiing and wheelchair rugby.
Nisar answered the call to serve his country after seeing a billboard in Bedford urging Muslims to join the Royal Navy.
After completing his studies in Mechanical Engineering and Electronics, he applied and even learned to swim so he could enrol as a Weapons Engineer Submariner, maintaining the firepower and defensive technologies of Royal Navy submarines.
However, within months of arriving at HMS Raleigh, Engineering Technician Nisar suffered a rare brain bleed which left him in a coma for several days.
Despite issues with balance, coordination and stuttering speech, Nisar fought his way back and has since returned to work with the Navy.
Nisar’s Recovery Officer advised him to apply for Team UK. Nisar said: “My hand-eye coordination has been massively degraded since the injury, and that is one of the main things I want to improve.
“The Games will help to prove to both myself and the Navy that I am an asset, despite the setbacks I’ve endured.”
The multi-generational team includes participants from all services who have been selected based on the benefit that the Games will contribute towards their recovery.
Nisar, 26, said: “It is unreal to have been selected, I didn’t take it in at first, it’s fantastic and now I’m really looking forward to it.”
We are Invictus
Established in 2014 by Prince Harry, the Invictus Games is an international adaptive multi-sport event for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women, which both serving and veterans can participate in as part of their recovery journey.
The Games say the power of sport helps to inspire recovery and support rehabilitation, showcasing the fortitude and resilience of military personnel and their families.
Its aim is that they will also help to improve respect and understanding for those with disabilities, and those who serve or have served their country.
“For the selected individuals, being part of a team again, representing their country and being around others who are all on their individual recovery pathway is what makes Team UK’s journey to the Invictus Games so unique,” added Louise Assioun, RBL’s Team UK Manager.
“The Royal British Legion is proud to support them every step of the way.”
While the RBL is well known for supporting veterans of the Second World War, the charity is also supporting younger veterans from more recent conflicts through their recovery journey.
Access to adaptive sports and the opportunity to participate in the Invictus Games is just one way the RBL supports the wounded, injured and sick community. Adventurous training and theatre and art programmes are also offered to assist individuals on their recovery journey.
The RBL’s Battle Back Centre also uses adaptive sports and adventure activities to help improve confidence and positively impact mental health and wellbeing, helping people achieve their best possible recovery and either return to service duty or transition to civilian life.
The Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 will take place from 8-16 February.
