New Delhi: Courage is one of the most important values of Paralympics. The unwavering spirit of differently-abled athletes despite facing arduous challenges serves as an inspiration for all of us. The least we can do is to show respect and support to the Paralympic athletes who seek to accomplish what is deemed unexpected, but what the para-athlete knows as truth and an achievable target.
The world witnessed several inspiring stories of courage and determination at the Paralympics. To understand the real success of an athlete, one must also know the tales of struggle and sacrifice during the journey. As the Indian contingent returns home after their best-ever performance (29 medals) in the history of the Paralympics, we look at five stories of courage and determination of Indian para-athletes.
Hokato Hotozhe Sema – Landmine blast survivor
India’s Hokato Hotozhe Sema celebrates after winning bronze medal in men’s shot put F57 final event of the Paris Paralympics 2024. (PTI Photo)
Nagaland’s Hokato Sema lost his left leg in a landmine blast while serving as a Naib Subedar in the Indian army during an anti-terrorist operation in Jammu & Kashmir’s Chowkibal in 2002. After being encouraged by a senior army official at the Pune-based Artificial Limb Centre to choose sports to get out of the mental trauma, he took up the shot put in 2016 at the age of 32.
In the very same year, he began his new journey by competing in the National Para Athletics Championships in Jaipur. Sema’s courageous sporting journey reached fruition when he claimed the bronze medal in the men’s F57 category final with his career-best throw of 14.65m.
Sheetal Devi – Armless Archer
Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar of Team India react during the Mixed Team Compound Open Quarterfinal on day five of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games at Esplanade Des Invalides on September 02, 2024 in Paris, France. (Getty Images)
Sheetal Devi became the symbol of grit and determination with her remarkable displays in Paris. The 17-year-old Jammu and Kashmir para-athlete was the only armless archer to compete at the Paralympics but that didn’t stop her winning a medal at the biggest stage. Born in 2007 without no arms due to a medical condition called phocomelia, Sheetal took up archery and used only her legs and feet, figuring out a unique way to hold the bow with one foot and pull back the string with her.
Sheetal became a worldwide sensation after hitting the bull’s-eye with her extraordinary method. With the whole country behind her, Sheetal scripted history by winning the bronze in the mixed team compound open archery event with her partner Rakesh Kumar.
Sunder Singh Gurjar – From fully-abled athlete to para-athlete
Bronze medalist Sundar Singh Gurhar of Team India. (Getty Images)
Once tipped to become a global sporting star by double-Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra, Sunder Singh Gurjar nurtured dreams of becoming a national champion. The 28-year-old from Rajasthan was a fit sportsman who excelled in track and field events such as javelin, shot put, and discus throw, competing in events as a fully-abled athlete till 2015. But in a disastrous turn of events, his arm near the wrist had to be amputated after an accident at his farm.
Drowned in sorrow, Gurjar struggled mentally to accept the reality of becoming a one-armed person from a fully fit and healthy athlete.
But he found courage, overcame his sorrow and began taking part in Paralympic events. His throwing skills and technique were still intact, Gurjar started dominating in para-events and clinched a bronze medal at the Tokyo Games. In 2023, he etched his name in history books with a world record with a throw of 68.60 metres Asian Para Games.
In Paris, he won his second successive bronze by chalking up a distance of 64.96 meters in the Javelin throw F46 event and joined an elist list of Indian Paralympians to win two medals.
Kapil Parmar – From coma to Paralympics bronze
Bronze medalists Marcos Dennis Blanco of Team Venezuela (L) and Kapil Parmar of Team India (R) pose for a photo during the Para Judo Men’s -60kg J1 Medal Ceremony (Getty Images)
Kapil Parmar almost lost his life at the age of nine when he was accidentally electrocuted while fetching water from a well. Discovered in an unconscious state and rushed to the hospital by passersby, Kapil was in a coma for six months. While Kapil recovered from the accident gradually, his eyesight never returned to normal.
Determined to make the most of his life despite visual impairment, Kapil developed strength and took up judo. His years of hard work paid off at the Paris Paralympics where he brought home India’s first-ever medal in judo by claiming the bronze medal in his maiden appearance.
As the Indian contingent returns home with best-ever performance in the history of the Paralympics, let’s take a look at some inspiring stories of courage and determination of Indian Paralympians. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
