On the wheels of success
AMIT BALYAN, 28 Sonipat,
BECAUSE
This wheelchair-bound athlete won silver in the javelin throw event in the 2018 Jakarta Para Asian Games.
SECRET OF SUCCESS
My success is all thanks to my guru Amit Saroha and Sunil Phogat. Amit sir’s training and trust in my ability constantly motivates me to do my best.
MY GOAL NEXT
My major goal is to clinch a gold medal in the 2020 Olympics.
MY ROLE MODEL
Again, I will name Amit Saroha as my role model. I would have continued to remain home-bound if he had not trained me and encouraged me to participate in sports. Through him I met Sunil Phogat.
BY THE WAY
I am absolutely focused on my training. I let nothing distract me from my goal.
BECAUSE
He topped the prestigious Kashmir Administrative Services (KAS) exam 2014, becoming the first ever person from his district to achieve this feat. This erstwhile Maths teacher did not go to any coaching centre and did his preparations all by himself.
SECRET OF SUCCESS
Utmost belief in almighty, sincerity and dedication in performing a task, plus the motivation which I get from the challenges I faced in my childhood. A mix of these characteristics motivated me to embark on this journey and reach where I am. I hope I will continue to improve myself.
THE GOAL NEXT
Getting into the administration services is just the beginning, my real goal is to serve the masses and maintain my integrity and selflessness throughout my administrative career. I want to use this platform for the interests of the society at large. My real success would be to
BECAUSE
He won bronze in Wushu, also called Chinese Kungfu, in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games. It was his second successive continental games medal. Wushu is a hard and complete martial art.
SECRET OF SUCCESS
There are no short cuts to success. As you know Wushu, is an endurance-based combat sport. We have to work extra hard and face the blows even when we are winning the game.
A Wushu champion has to be proficient in wrestling, boxing and taekwondo at the same time. It is a tall order and requires hours of practice as all these three fields have their own requirements. I try my best to train as hard as possible in all the three. I also train my mind because a Wushu champ must be ready to suffer blows and still not go down. Victory and defeat are equally in the mind as well.
THE GOAL NEXT
I want to win the World Championship
SECOND OPINION
“Amit and I were injured together and we met in the hospital for the first time. He maintained a positive outlook despite his injuries. He was very quick to grasp things. Even, in rehab he was the first to be able to correctly perform an exercise. Amit has a great capacity for learning due to which he has been able to carve a niche for himself at the national and international level.”
–Amit Saroha, Paralympian, Asian Para Games medalist & Arjuna Awardee
THE ROLE MODEL
Prophet Muhammad is my role model. His life is the lighthouse of my endeavours. It teaches me the core values required to be a good administrator, and more importantly, a good human being. His ideals of peace, tolerance and sympathy kept me on the right track in the times of turbulence, bloodshed and hatred. I am what I am because of Him.
BY THE WAY
I am closely associated with some nongovernment organisations which work for the socio-economic upliftment of the deprived sections of society, and educate them about their rights, government schemes and policies.
I also collaborate with Initiative for Competition Promotion (ICP), a nonprofit organisation, which provides guidance, material and free boarding facilities to civil service aspirants in the state.
SECOND OPINION
“Kuchh log they jo waqt ke saanchey mein dhal gaye, Kuchh log they jo waqt ke saanchey badal gaye.” as I have never won it till now. For the last two Asian Games, I was only able to win a bronze so I want to change the colour of my medal.
I have four years in my hand and I will do my best to improve my standing from third to first.
MY ROLE MODEL
My role models are Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt. Sushil Kumar has made India proud numerous times and Yogeshwar Dutt is an inspiration for all sportspersons who have had to face injuries. He has had around eight to ten operations but he did not give up.
I too broke my jaw in 2015. The doctors told me that I would not be able to play again but I took inspiration from Yogeshwar sir and rebounded. These days I am playing better than ever before.
BY THE WAY
I enjoy watching movies made on the life of sporting greats. I also enjoy watching others in the ring.
SECOND OPINION
“He is one of the best and the most experienced Wushu players in the country. He will definitely live upto our expectations in the next Asian Games.”
–Kuldeep Handoo,
–A teacher