Paralympics a Story of Triumph for the Indian Athletes

India Won Four Medals: Two Golds, a Silver and a Bronze. It Is a Far Better Performance Than What India Managed in the Summer Olympics at the Same Venue. In Case You Forgot, India Won Just Two Medals – a Silver and a Bronze – in the Summer Olympics...

- Niji Ng

Do you know who is Murlikant Petkar? Or Mariyappan Thangavelu? Or Devendra Jhajharia? No?

Well, you would be knowing Keiron Pollard, a giant six hitter from West Indies who plays for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. And you would as well be knowing Mesut Ozil, the German footballer who plays for Arsenal in the English Premier League. There is no harm in knowing the West Indian cricketer or the German footballer. But you must know the former set of apparently obscure names. Read on. You will know why.

INDIA’S MEDAL HUNT IN PARALYMPICS

Those names come into prominence now because of India’s eye-catching performance in the 16th edition of the Paralympics, held in Rio de Janeiro on September 7-18. India won four medals: two golds, a silver and a bronze. It is a far better performance than what India managed in the Summer Olympics at the same venue. In case you forgot, India won just two medals – a silver and a bronze – in the Summer Olympics. In the Paralympics, Mariyappan Thangavelu won gold in high jump, Devendra Jhajharia won gold in javelin throw, Deepa Malik won silver in shot put and Varun Singh Bhati bronze in high jump.

The reason for India’s better performance in the Paralympics than at the Summer Olympics is not difficult to understand. The competition is less intense at the Paralympics than at the Olympics. It is a fact. However, that does not take the sheen away from the triumph of these athletes. In India, disability is still considered as a stigma or god’s curse over some past sins. In many cases, disability means end of proper life for a person. In that context, this achievement is huge. It is not a mere sporting success. It is a victory of human will over hazards posed by disability.