Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur) - Hindustan Times (Jaipur) - City
Padma Shri Virender Singh: Bahut struggle ke baad itna samman mila hai
Popularly called Goonga Pehelwan (mute wrestler), Virender Singh’s journey exemplifies grit and resilience. The differently abled sportsperson, who has won seven medals internationally, including four gold, has been named a Padma Shri awardee this year. “Bahut struggle ke baad itna samman mila hai. Main bahut khush hoon,” gestures Singh, as his brother, Rambir, interprets the former’s joy at the honour. “Meri wife aur beta bahut lucky hain mere liye, unke aate hi meri life mein itni khushi aayi hai,” says Singh, who recently became a father. An Arjuna awardee, Singh works as a junior coach with the Sports Authority of India. Sharing his journey from Jhajjar, Haryana, to Delhi, he says, “My father and uncle are both wrestlers. I couldn’t go to school... when I was 10, my father brought me to Delhi for the treatment of an injury, and I started training under him and my uncle.” He now trains eight hours a day. And his efforts have brought recognition to other hearing-impaired people in the sports fraternity. Mallika Bhagat