He throws a winner: Rinku Hooda, 17
At 17, Rinku Hooda was the youngest athlete in the Indian contingent during the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Hooda was all of three when he lost his left arm in an accident involving a fan blade. A natural in sports, Rinku was introduced to javelin throwing by fellow Indian para athlete Amit Kumar Saroha. The rest, as they say, is history.
Secret sauce: Belief in yourself and hard work.
Inspiration: Under-20 javelin world record holder Neeraj Chopra.
Challenges facing India: “Unemployment and female foeticide are two issues that worry me.”
Uplifting feature: “I feel lucky to be a citizen of this democratic country. We are undergoing a change. People are doing well at the international level and are also being recognised by the government.”
The road ahead: Rinku is preparing for the world championship to be held in July this year.
As an agent of change: “I would like to connect with a lot of Indian parents and ask them to encourage their children in the field of sports.”
By the way: When not in the field, Rinku enjoys watching sports shows.
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