Resilience and grit - the life of Yogesh Kathuniya is all that and more.
Born in Haryana, Yogesh Kathuniya didn't have a normal childhood. At a young age of eight, he suffered a paralytic attack which left him with coordination impairments in his limbs. While this setback would have dissuaded most of us, this however, did not stop him from achieving his dreams. He will be representing his country at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.??
Yogesh has been on a winning streak. On November 12, Yogesh claimed the bronze medal in men's discus throw F56 final at the Dubai 2019 World Para Athletics Championships to qualify for the Paralympic Games next year. The 23-year-old hurled the discus to a distance of 42.51 metres in his sixth attempt to take the bronze.
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Having booked his spot in next year's tournament, he told PTI, "After the first three fouls, I threw the next three easy. There was no pressure on me. I just wanted to make a mark in my first World Championships and finally, I did it. I am happy to get the bronze."
It marked another great chapter in the journey that hasn't been easy, but also hasn't known giving up. While accolades keep coming, the road to here hasn't been smooth for Yogesh.
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A bright kid with tenacity to learn, he took an interest in javelin throw and gradually got close to the game. Although it was early days, he began to show great promise. It can never be easy after a setback he suffered, but it never bothered the young Delhi boy, who had a dream to achieve big in life. Not satisfied with just one sport, he also started practicing discus throw. He became equally engrossed in both sports.
Though he always aspired to win big, his coaching in the early years was minimal as his school didn't have proper facilities. He found it hard to improve his skills and performances. After completing his secondary education, he enrolled in Delhi University's Kirori Mal College. It was during this time, his potential was noticed by several coaches. He was soon under the tutelage of coach Satyapal Singh at Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium.
Working under Singh did a world of good to the sportsman, and he improved as a player. A few years later, he started to work under the guidance of coach Naval Singh. His new coach helped him overcome his initial hiccups on the field, and better his skills. Yogesh then performed different para events across the country.??
His true moment of reckoning came last year, when he participated in his first-ever international competition. Yogesh became an inspiration for billions with his incredible achievement on the track and field events.
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He broke the world record in the men＊s Discus F36 category and Javelin Throw events by bagging the gold in the Para-athletics Grand Prix in Berlin. Kathuniya threw 45.18m, which was two metres more than the earlier world record of 42.96m set by China＊s Cuiqing Li in 2017. He came up with his best throw in his third attempt. The F36 classification that Kathuniya broke the record in includes para-athletes with coordination impairments in all four limbs, according to the International Paralympic Association.?
It was no mean feat. Discus throw isn't as simple as it looks. To throw a disc that is very heavy and to do that with Yogesh's condition, you have to be strong both physically and mentally. He didn't just win it, he broke the world record. Javelin throw, another game that looks deceivingly simple, requires great skill and character to launch the javelin. Imagine, not breaking a world record in not just one, but two sports. Yogesh did just that.?
Yogesh＊s story is that of inspiration and it continues to shine bright. Next year, as Yogesh takes the field in Tokyo, the grandest stage for any para athlete, and performing against the finest opponents from all across the world, we know he will give it his all.?