Category: Unsung Heroes

Resilience, determination and talent, you just name it and Indian Para-athletes have got them all. Despite facing immense challenges, time and again, these para-athletes have defied all odds and risen on Mount Rushmore in their respective games.

Over the years, Indian para-athletes have brought many laurels to the country at the global showpiece events like Paralympics. In fact, some have performed at a level that the normal athletes may struggle to reach. The perfect example being Sheetal Devi, who was simply outstanding during the 2024 Paralympics games, shattering many records as she won bronze medal. She is one of the many para athletes whose stories are full of inspiration. So let’s celebrate some of these stalwarts by sharing some fascinating stories behind some of the best para-athletes the country has ever produced.

Also Read: Sports Legends: Icons Who Shaped the World of Sports

Murlikant Petkar: The Tough Military Man

The recent movie Chandu Champion was based on the life of Murlikant Petkar. The movie which starred Kartik Aryan told shed light on the tragic incident of Murlikant Petkar. During the 1965 war, he faced nine bullets. Eight were removed but one couldn’t be removed as it was deep in his spine. This left him disbale under the waist.

He was indeed a tough man, as despite the heart wrenching incident, he embraced life and continued to fight for his dreams. Originally a boxer, he tried other sport such as swimming and table tennis after getting disabled.

But it was swimming that got the best out of him. At the 1972 Paralympics games at Heidelberg, India won only one medal and that medal came courtesy of Murlikant Petkar who won the Gold in the 50M Freestyle Swimming event. On March 20, 2018, Murlikant was awarded the Padma Shri Award by the Government of India for his sports achievements.

Murlikant Petkar’s story is an inspiring story of all the ups and downs a human go through in his life and what he can achieve he believes in the beauty of his dreams.

Also Read: Cricket Legends from 21st Century: Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root

Devendra Jhajharia: The Golden Arm of India

Devendra Jhajharia is one of the most decorated para-athletes the country has ever produced. Jhajharia is a javelin thrower who has altered the course of history. A Rajasthani native, was eight years old when he came into contact with a live wire and lost his left arm. His condition didn’t stop him from focusing on sports, and he became a world-class javelin thrower.

Jhajharia came into recognition by winning a gold medal at the Paralympic Games in Athens in 2004. The globe was astounded by his record-breaking 62.15-meter throw in the F46 division. He repeated this astounding feat again at the Rio Paralympics in 2016 by throwing 63.97 meters to win his second gold at the prestigious juncture. another gold medal. Today, Devendra Jhajharia stands tall as the President of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI).

Mariyappan Thangavelu: Rising Above Adversity

The rise of Mariyappan Thangavelu from a small Tamil Nadu village to the highest level of world sports is nothing short of extraordinary. Despite losing one leg in an accident as a child, the high jumper never lost his hope and kept pushing himself to achieve greatness.

Mariyappan tasted success at a very young age of 21 by winning a Gold medal in the men’s T42 high jump at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. This feat was second to none and gave him immense confidence to push for greater heights. Mariyappan went on to win a Silver medal at the Paralympics in Tokyo in 2020 and a Bronze in Paris in 2024 to solidify his place among India’s best para-athletes.

Also Read: Mithali Raj: Breaking Barriers in Cricket

Deepa Malik: Breaking Barriers

The tale of Deepa Malik boasts unmatched bravery and tenacity. Deepa was diagnosed with a spine tumor at the age of 29 which required numerous surgeries. Regular surgeries eventually got the best of her body as she got paralyzed from waist down.

But her spirit was as strong as it had ever been. Even this tragic incident couldn’t stop her from pursuing the sport of Shot Put.

Deepa became the first Indian woman to win a medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. She secured a silver in the shot put F53 category at the Rio Games. Deepa is more than just a shot put player. She has also participated in swimming, motorcycling, and adventure sports which speaks volumes of the versatile talent she possesses.

Manasi Joshi: Champion of the Badminton Court

‘Resilience’ is the term to describe the journey of Manasi Joshi. The Para-Badminton player lost her left leg in a tragic accident in 2011. A brilliant student in academics turned her attention to Badminton after the tragic incident and now stands tall as one of the best Para shuttler the country has ever produced.

Talking about her accolades, Manasi won a Gold medal in the SL3 division of the 2019 Para-Badminton World Championships. She continued to excel in World Championships by winning four Bronze and two Silver medals. Apart from World Championships wins, Manasi also won one Silver (doubles) and two Bronze medals at the Asian Para Games.

Pramod Bhagat: A Trailblazer in Para-Badminton

Pramod Bhagat can be defined as the face of Indian Para-Badminton. Hailing from Odisha, Bhagat was five years old when he was diagnosed with polio. Despite this early setback, he didn’t give up on the sport he always loved – Badminton.

Pramod has maintained an impressive portfolio so far. He won a historic Gold medal in the men’s singles SL3 event at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

Bhagat has an impressive tally of 7 Golds, 2 Silvers and 5 Bronze medals at the Badminton World Championships, making him a ‘Beast’ of the game. Aspiring para-athletes around the globe can take inspiration from his inspiring yet astounding journey.

Sundar Singh Gurjar: Overcoming Setbacks

Adversities can never break you if you will to achieve success. This is how Sundar Singh Gurjar made his life worth. After losing his left hand in an accident, Sundar transitioned into Para Athletics and became a Javelin thrower. Despite getting disqualified due to a technical glitch during Rio Paralympics 2016, Sundar stuck to his goal and remained inspired for future opportunities.

2017 was the year of redemption for Sundar. At the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, he won Gold in the F46 javelin throw and followed this impeccable feat with a Bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. Sundar’s unwavering spirit and determination to succeed is an inspiration for everyone.

Conclusion

The biggest message from the achievements of India’s para-athletes is the undeniable truth of human perseverance. Despite facing so many challenges that is enough to force a normal person into an unending depression or solitude for that matter, these para athletes not only pushed limits and broker barriers, but also went to the biggest of the stages and told everyone that they are ready to accept anything other than what they want. And they are achieving their dreams and proving to everyone that do not settle for anything less than your goals.

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The world of sport is full of stories that can inspire even the most pessimist human being. It has the power to bring out the best in anybody. At the heart of all this are the athletes who broke the barriers of human limits and left an indelible mark on sports. From Pele to Sachin Tendulkar and LeBron James, here are some sports legends who became global icons and went on to shape the world of sports.

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Cricket Legends Who Redefined the Game

India’s favorite pastime, Cricket has seen many legends who are considered as generational players. But only a few could shine as brightly as Sir Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar.

1. Sir Don Bradman

Sir Don Bradman is widely considered as the best batsman to grace the sport of cricket. There are stories that people used to flock in large numbers just to see him batting. He was a true master and a magician who brought cricket into the limelight. One of the most talked about topic around Bradman was his batting average of 99.94 which remains unparalleled.

Also Read: Mithali Raj: Breaking Barriers in Cricket

In every aspect of life, people are held to some standards that they have to match in order to succeed. In cricket, that standard is Don Bradman. He is the one sitting at the top of throne and so far, there has been none who could dethrone him.

2. Sachin Tendulkar

India has always been blessed with cricketers who became cultural icons. Kapil Dev won the first world cup for India and remains hugely revered, while stories of Sunil Gavaskar overpowering West Indies’ famous bowling attack consisting of Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall and Andy Roberts are still discussed with passion.

But the way Sachin Tendulkar influenced the whole generation is unparalleled. What made him special was that he started his career when Indian cricket was on a freefall, and was marred with controversies such as match fixing scandals. The Little Master carried the hopes of a billion Indians every time he stepped onto the field. He is the only player to hit 100 hundreds in the game of cricket. He is true role model for young cricketers around the world.

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Football Icons: The Greatest Players of All Time

World’s most popular sport, football, might lack a true culture in India, but its global appeal and following is second to none. Football clubs such as Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich have huge fan following around the world.

1. Pele

Pelé was truly the first global football superstar in the world. Being a black player, he inspired people of all races and ethnic backgrounds. He had the flair, and charisma that transcended football, making him a global ambassador of the sport.

2. Diego Maradona

Diego Armando Maradona Franco is often considered as the best player the football has witnessed. He had everything that a footballer can dream of – dribbling, speed and ability to score goals in big moments. He won two world cups with Argentina, including the 1986 event where he scored the Goal Of the Century against England.

While at the peak of his powers, Maradona stunned the world by moving to Napoli in 1984. There, he led the Naples side to two Serie A titles and transformed the club forever.

3. Lionel Messi

We should stop using the term “Greatest footballer of his generation” for Lionel Messi. For the Argentine, is surely the very best the game of football has witnessed. The former Barcelona superstar has achieved everything the game of football could offer, both at the personal level and with the teams he has played for.

Messi changed the way football is played, with his mesmerizing dribbles, clinical finishing, and vision often regarded as unique. Some players have vision, some are poachers, while some are good at dribbling, but with no end product, but Messi has everything.

Related: Cricket Legends from 21st Century: Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root

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Unsung Sports Heroes: Stories You May Not Know

1. Milkha Singh

Milkha Singh, also known as the “Flying Sikh,” put Indian athletics on the world map. His struggles during his childhood and younger years made him an athlete who refused to give up. His near victory in the 1960 Olympics 400m final remains one of India’s most inspiring stories.

2. Major Dhyan Chand

Much of field hockey’s legacy can be traced back to Dhyan Chand, India’s greatest hockey player. He was rightly given the nickname the “Wizard of Hockey”. Chand led India to three Olympic gold medals, in 1928, 1932, and 1936, and in all three Olympics, he was the unequivocal star.

Major Dhyan Chand inspired not only India but also the rest of the world to grow hockey as a competitive sport. He remains the benchmark for skills and humility among all the players around the world.

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Greatest Athletes Of All Time

1. Michael Jordan

The history of basketball cannot be written without mentioning Michael Jordan.

Michael Jordan revolutionized basketball in a way that few athletes have influenced their sport. In fact, his influence goes far away from the game of basketball.

In 1984, Nike took a huge gamble by signing a young basketball player who was none other than Michael Jordan. Back then, this deal might have been considered a huge risk, but now, this remains the biggest collaboration between an athlete and a big company. Jordan went on to dominate the court winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Nike, on the other hand, grew its business manifold by selling Air Jordan, a sneaker line which was launched in 1985.

The deal between Nike and Michael Jordan changed the way sports marketing was done. It gave rise to the concept of athlete endorsement and the marketing by sports stars.

2. Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods revolutionized the game of Golf due to his talent and charisma. His off-field activities such as affairs with Hollywood actresses only brought Golf into limelight.

Tiger Woods won 15 major championships and 82 PGA Tour victories. He changed the game of golf from being a less accessible, serious game to an mainstream sport, which attracted young fans from all around the world. His career is full of dominant performances when he came back from seemingly impossible scenarios. He is certainly one of the greatest athletes in sports history.

3. Muhammad Ali

Regarded as the best boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali a true global icon. He is the only boxer to win the world heavyweight title on three different occasions. He fought against the discrimination, and forced USA government’s rule around war.

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Olympic Heroes Who Made History

1. Usain Bolt

The 100M dash at the Olympics is hailed as the Mother of all Sports. This is because the athletics require nothing but plain human movements like walking, running and jumping.

The “Lightning Bolt”, Usain Bolt from Jamaica, is the fastest man in history of humanity. He holds the record for the 100M dash which is covered in just 9.58 seconds, and won eight Olympic gold medals, owning the world records in the 100m and 200m sprints. Bolt brought unprecedented excitement to athletics and became a global icon.

2. Indian Wrestling: Sushil Kumar

Though India won its first medal in wrestling in 1952 Helsinki Games when KD Jadhav won Bronze for India, the true watershed moment came 56 years later. At Beijing 2008 Olympics games, Sushil Kumar not only won a bronze medal but also changed the wrestling landscape in India. Since 2008, India have won at least one wrestling medal in each of the last five Olympics.

Sushil Kumar inspired a new generation of wrestlers in India. His achievements have elevated Indian wrestling to international prominence.

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Conclusion

The impact of the above-mentioned athletes extend far beyond their records and accolades. They have inspired millions, broken barriers, and defined what it means to push their limits and be a champion. They continue to inspire young kids to take up sport.

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