‘No target is too high’: India’s Paralympics champions feted
NEW DELHI: The Indian Paralympic medallists, who won an unprecedented 19 medals, including five gold at the Tokyo Paralympics, were felicitated by the Union sports ministry at a grand ceremony here.
At the ceremony, the 19 medallists gave glimpses of their inspiring journeys, and the courage and passion that saw them cross numerous obstacles.
Union sports minister Anurag Singh Thakur and minister of state Nisith Pramanik praised them for their achievements.
“You have shown that no target is too high, there is no fear that you cannot overcome,” Thakur said. “India is ecstatic at your brilliant performance. You are trailblazers and you have shown that human spirit is the most powerful of all. It is a new era for Paralympic sports in the country.”.
Paralympic Committee of India president Deepa Malik, secretary general Gursharan Singh, former sports minister and now the Union minister of law and justice, Kiren Rijiju were also present.
Javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia, who won his third Paralympics medal bringing, a silver in Tokyo, talked about how things have changed since he won his first medal, a gold in 2004.
“I remember when I went to Athens in 2004...I will become emotional if I tell you how I arranged the money for that. But I knew one thing that if I win a medal there, I can bring a change. I can see that change today. I am able to complete that mission I had in mind,” he said.
Badminton player Suhas Yathiraj, who as the Noida district magistrate juggled handling the Covid-19 crisis and training for the Paralympics, won a silver in Tokyo.
“If you have passion for anything, follow it,” Yathiraj said. “I love my job and badminton is a spiritual experience for me. My message to the youth would be to take that one step, you will find support from others behind you, helping you along your journey.”.
The first Indian woman to win a gold at the Paralympics, 19-year-old shooter Avani Lekhara too spoke about following dreams.
“It was my dream to represent my country and win medals for India. I have been training for six years for this. The feeling is yet to sink in,” she said. “I still have a long way to go. This was my first Paralympics and I want to win a lot of my medals.”
She thanked Sports Authority of India for helping her set up a digital target at her home in Jaipur during the pandemic: “Due to the pandemic, the ranges were closed and I was also scared to go out and train,” Lekhara said. “SAI and Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) helped me install digital targets at home and that’s how I could continue my training.”