E-Paper
Haath katne ke baad bhi maine apne aap ko kisi se kam nahi maana: Nishad Kumar
Champions in India are welcomed as heros! And so was the case with Nishad Kumar who bagged a silver medal for his country set an Asian record in men’s high jump T47 event at the Tokyo Paralympics
Champions in India are welcomed as heros! And so was the case with Nishad Kumar who bagged a silver medal for his country set an Asian record in men’s high jump T47 event at the Tokyo Paralympics. “Jab main ghar aaya, Punjab aur Himachal ke border se le kar ghar tak, public khadi thi, hoot kar rahi thi, shor macha rahe the, celebrate kar rahi thi 50 - 60 km tak!”
Kumar had trained hard for the games. “Training maine 2019 se start kari thi. Kabhi kabhi main training itni zyaada kar leta tha ki coach sahab mujhe daat te the. Main chaar ghante training karta rehta tha. Mujhe hard work pasand hai aur is wajah se hi main iss mukaam par pahucha hun.”
What was the motivation that led Kumar to a win? “Mere father ne bola tha ki meri pag aur upar karke aana. Yehi baat rakh ke main lagatar training karta tha aur medal laaya,” says Kumar adding, “Silver medal positions do thi magar jo humara flag tha woh USA se upar tha aur yeh mere liye bahut khushi ki baat thi ki humara tiranga upar hai. Ceremony ke baad maine maa ko call kiya aur mere aankhon mein aasun the. Call rakhne ke baad main tees chalis minute rote raha”
Not letting his disability impact the quality of his life Kumar shares, “Jab mera haath kata toh maine apne aap ko kisi se bhi kam nahi maana ki main yeh kaam nahi kar sakta, woh kaam nahi kar sakta. Maine har woh cheez kari jo doosre karte the jaise kheti baari, ghar ka kaam wagera.”
Rampant with struggles, the path to this silver medal wasn’t an easy one for Kumar. “Mujhe financial support ki zaroorat thi lekin mere ander zidd thi ki kuch kar ke dikhana hai. Sheher main jaana gaav se bahut badi baat thi mere liye. Financially hum log itne strong nahi the. Mere mother aur father extra over time karke paise jodte the mere liye. Khaana - rehne ka kharcha nikalna muskhil tha. Toh tab mujhe mere coaches ne support kiya, room diya, aur training di.”
When asked the formula to succeed in life, Kumar says, “Jis bhi field me ho, apna 100% do, target rakho aur focus karo. Kamiyabi ke peeche mat bhaago, apne upar kaam karo toh kamiyabi khud apke kadam choomegi.”
Author tweets @FizzyBuddha
