BEYOND BARRIERS Sachin Khilari

Meet Sachin Khilari, a 33-year-old para-athlete from Karagani village in Sangli district, who has proven that disability is not a curse but a God's gift. Overcoming numerous obstacles, Sachin has risen to the top rank in the world in his category of shot put in Para Athletics

Recently, Sachin Khilari clinched the gold medal at the Para Athletics World Championship in Paris, setting an Asian record with his remarkable performance of 16.21 meters. Furthermore, he has secured a coveted spot at the upcoming Olympic Games. Let’s delve into the inspiring journey of this exceptional athlete who believes in turning challenges into triumphs.

Resilience and determination

Sachin’s path to success has been marked by resilience and determination. The disability in his left hand, which occurred due to a tragic accident during his school days, did not deter him from pursuing education and sports. In fact, he not only excelled as a mechanical engineer but also worked as a visiting faculty at various classes and academies, contributing to the training for MPSC and UPSC examinations.

Despite facing personal tragedies, including the loss of his mother at a tender age and coping with a debilitating injury from a bicycle accident, Sachin’s indomitable spirit shone through. Due to gangrene, he lost his muscles from the elbow. He had to undergo several surgeries, but his hand never recovered fully.

However, with the unwavering support of his father, Sarjerao, who played the role of both father and mother to Sachin and his younger brother, he embraced his disability as a gift rather than a hindrance.

Passion for athletics