Paralympics champs

DHARAMBIR, Harvinder Singh, Nitesh Kumar, Sumit Antil and Avani Lekhara are not household names in India, but they should be. What makes them special? They are all Paralympics gold medallists. Overcoming enormous odds, they have excelled in the world’s biggest sporting extravaganza for the differently abled. Their stories are awe-inspiring. Harvinder, an archer hailing from Haryana, was just a toddler when he was stricken by dengue; his treatment went horribly wrong, and he ended up with impaired legs. However, he had dreams far bigger than his disability. On Wednesday, he became the first Indian archer to win a Paralympics gold.

Dharambir, also from Haryana, was left paralysed from the waist down when he misjudged a dive into a canal and fell on rocks. Confined to a wheelchair, his future looked bleak. But he relied on the power of his shoulders and arms to become the Paralympics champion in club throw. Yet another Haryanvi, javelin thrower Sumit Antil, and Rajasthan shooter Avani Lekhara saw their world turn upside down by road accidents. But they rose from the ashes like the proverbial phoenix. With back-to-back gold medals (Tokyo and Paris Games), Sumit has done what even his famous compatriot Neeraj Chopra failed to do.

Unfortunately, Paralympic Games don’t excite too many sports buffs in India, and para-athletes are not regarded as ‘real’ athletes. This flawed mindset must change. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has rightly urged people to cheer for the athletes participating in the Paris Paralympics, but a lot more needs to be done to support sportspersons who defy disabilities to win laurels. Most of us might be unaware of the myriad categories of competitions, but that should not stop us from saluting those who epitomise the triumph of the indomitable human will.