Don't let your physical limitation demotivate you

Kolhapur's gold medallist Swaroop Unhalkar's advice to fellow para-athletes; win 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 category

After 8 series and 22 shots, Maharashtra para shooter Swaroop Unhalkar found himself trailing by one point in the Final of Men’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 at the inaugural Khelo India Para Games against Haryana’s Deepak Saini. While Swaroop had a total score of 222.8 with two shots left, his opponent Deepak was ahead with 223.8 points and was on the cusp of winning the Gold medal. But giving up is not in Swaroop’s nature. Born with severe polio, leading to disability in both legs, Swaroop has been a fighter ever since his birth. Between the age of 2 months and 10 years, he had to undergo multiple operations because of his severe condition. “I never let my condition deter me from achieving my dreams,” Swaroop says at the Karni Singh Shooting Range during a training session of the Khelo India Para Games 2023.

Growing up in the city of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, Swaroop became passionate about sports after he saw his uncle playing football. “I was always interested in sports while growing up. I would often visit the stadium to see my uncle compete. Looking at him, I also developed a desire to play, but was unable to do so due to my physical condition. At the time, I was not aware about para-sports.”

A chance meeting with Mr. Anil Powar in 2008, who was the head of the District Paralympic Association at the time, led Swaroop on a new path.