Manoj: My mother is my inspiration
My mother said use jealousy as a positive force. MANOJ SARKAR, Paralympian
For Paralympics bronze medallist Manoj Sarkar, the value of this win is different because of the amount of love he has been getting. The para athlete, who received a heartwarming welcome at his hometown in Uttarakhand recently, shares, “There were bike rallies to welcome me... Also, when the country’s Prime Minister congratulates you, the significance of the win increases manifold!”
Sarkar’s life has been rampant with struggles.
However, the story of how he got his first racquet is quite moving! “When I was five, the elders got racquets for everyone in the family, except for me, due to budget constraints. I was upset... Mummy ne jaldi se ek beedi banake bechi to buy me a ₹10 racket. That’s how I got my first racket.”
In fact, his mother has been his inspiration, edging him to become better. “She told me to use jealousy as a positive force, instead of being negative about not having something someone else has,” the Arjuna awardee says. Despite an impaired leg, Sarkar has played in and won many “able-bodied championships”. He didn’t even let financial woes hold him back. “Badminton equipment is very expensive. I’ve even done paint jobs and mazdoori to earn money and make a career in badminton,” he says. The biggest struggle, however, was when he lost his mother and his game got impacted. “I was so depressed that I thought of quitting sports. My coach, Gaurav sir, helped me... But it was a big struggle to come out of it,” the para athlete tells us.
When asked what was going on in his mind when he entered the court, he laughs and shares, “My wife told me jitna gussa mujh par karte ho utna gussa court pe kar doge toh koi tumhe hara nahin paega. Later, I thanked my wife for her advice.”