This is a reply to people who said to me, 40 ke ho gaye, ab medal kya laoge
When Devendra Jhajharia reached India, he was greeted like a champion for winning a silver medal in Men’s Standing Javelin (F46) event, “We got such a warm welcome. People put garlands around us, chanted Vande Mataram, the entire atmosphere was vibrating,” he says. The premier javelin thrower has won his third Paralympics medal! “40 saal mein, apna personal best throw karne ko main ek personal achievement manta hun,” he adds.
Jhajharia never listened to the nay sayers who didn’t believe in him. “Mujhe bahut log keh rahe the ki 40 saal mein kya medal laoge? Kyun kar rahe ho training? Main unko kehta tha ki aap dekhna main jeet ke dikhaunga medal. Aur aisa hi hua,” he says.
Competing with younger para-athletes from the world and attaining a medal at 40 is remarkable.
“Abki baar maine teen — teen ghante training ki thi. Itni running ki thi ki maine 8kg weight ghata liya tha. Mere ander junoon hai javelin phekne ka. Woh junoon aaj bhi utna hi hai jitna 20 saal pehle tha, kam nahi hua,” he shares.
Jhajharia dedicates this win to his late father. He carries a token of his father’s remembrance wherever he goes, “Mere pitaji ne mujhe ek maala di thi jo mere saath rehti hai hamesha. Mujhe isse hosla, confidence aur blessing milti hai.”
Jhajharia’s story is inspirational. “Zindagi mein aath nau saal ki age pe maine itna kho diya tha ki mere paas kuch bacha hi nahi tha jab maine haath gava diya tha. Toh maine life shunya se start kari thi. Lekin paane ke liye tabhi bhi bahut kuch tha,” says the seasoned para-athlete who mentored Avani Lekhara in this Paralympics. When asked who could play his role if a biopic is made on him, he smiles and says, “Sonu Sood ya Akshay Kumar.”