ROHTAK: City lad Adarsh Hooda has been awarded with President’s Plaque and the Chief of the Air Staff ‘Sword of Honour’ for bagging first position in the pilot course.

HT PHOTOFlying officer Adarsh Hooda with his parents at the Air Force Academy in Hyderabad.

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar presented the award to Hooda during the Combined Graduation Parade at Air Force Academy, Dundigal in Hyderabad on June 18.

Rohtak native Hooda did his schooling from Pathania Public School. Always wanting to join the Indian Air Force, Hooda tried his luck in NDA after Class 12, but couldn’t pass the SSB. He went on to pursue BSc in chemistry honours from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University, and then a Masters in Chemistry from Hindu College.

Talking to HT, Hooda said, “Since childhood I wanted to join the Air Force. So after my masters, I took the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) in 2014. I joined the Air Force Academy in January, 2015, and was now commissioned as a flying officer.”

“The whole journey was challenging. It requires a lot of motivation and positive attitude, for which I’m grateful to my batchmates and instructors,” he added.

An All India university-level basketball player, Hooda represented Delhi University’s basketball team as captain in 2013. In his free time, he likes to paint and recite poetry.