New Delhi: Amisha Rawat, a determined para-athlete from Rudraprayag, Uttrakhand has achieved a historic milestone by qualifying for the Paris Paralympics 2024. She is a student at the Jawaharlal Nehra University (JNU) in New Delhi and will represent the country in the women’s shot put F64 category. Her journey to Paris is remarkable considering how many tough challenges she has faced.
Amisha was born without a hand below the elbow and faced societal prejudices and financial obstacles from a very young age. Despite these challenges, she nurtured big dreams and a bigger passion to chase them. Overcoming all the obstacles, she followed her dreams with unwavering dedication, motivated by a strong ambition to succeed.
“My path was fraught with obstacles. Financial hardships loomed large over my family, confining my practice sessions to a small garden near my home. I participated in various events like running and long jump, relying solely on online tutorials and self-training,” Amisha said. Her Physical Training (PT) teacher recognised her talent and introduced her to the Uttrakhand State Para Championship where she won two gold medals in the 100m and 200m events.
Her brilliant performance in the State Para Championship captured the attention of Prem Kumar, Secretary of the Uttarakhand Para Sports Association and with his support and encouragement, she secured a spot in the nationals. However, she realized the limitations of her training.
Turning Point
A significant turning point came in her career when she met with Sandeep Chaudhary who won a gold medal in the Asian Para Games 2018. He recognised her potential and suggested Amisha to try the shot put and javelin. He also invited her to Delhi for professional coaching but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted these plans.
After the pandemic, she moved to Delhi for her graduation from Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she met with coach Rakesh Yadav. “Coach Yadav saw immense potential in me. Under his guidance, I started focusing on shot put in 2022, which opened doors to many national accolades, including medals at the Khelo India Games” Amisha said. She made her international debut at the Grand Prix event in Switzerland and won the bronze medal after which she represented India at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou.
Amisha Rawat has qualified for the Paris Paralympics 2024 in the Women’s Shot Put – F46 category. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
