A congenital impairment notwithstanding, 18-year-old Paralympics Silver medallist Praveen Kumar was such a sports freak in his school days that he googled on internet to find out how to take up para athletics and take part in the showpiece.
Praveen, a son of a poor farmer at a village near Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar district, clinched Silver medal in the men’s high jump T64/T44 event of the Paralympics by setting a new Asian record of 2.07m.
“My school life was mostly about sports. But at that time I did not know I will reach at this level one day. I was playing volleyball initially in school, but then slowly came to know of para athletics and took up high jump,†Praveen said after his event.
“I came to know about Paralympics and how to take part in it after searching on google,†the high jumper, whose congenital impairment affects the bones that connect his hip to his left leg, said.
Explaining how he came to rise to this level, Praveen said, “I took part in a district level competition where I met Ashok Saini sir who gave me phone number of Satyapal sir (his current coach).
“I contacted (Satyapal) sir and then he found out in which classification I will compete. He identified me and said he will take me. This was 2018,†said Praveen who is a BA second year student in Motilal Nehru College in Delhi.
Talking about Friday’s competition, he said, "I was a bit low in confidence when I cleared 1.97m in my second attempt but I regained confidence after jumping 2.01m. I told myself I will give my best whatever it takes, whether rain or not.
“There was pressure while trying to jump 2.10m. In the final attempt, I just thought of doing my best and it was a very good attempt but there was some problems in my landing and so I could not clear it,†said Praveen, who was congratulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on phone.
