Amit Saroha's Journey to the Paralympics
- Amit Saroha, a para-athlete from India, met with a road accident at the age of 22, resulting in a spinal cord injury that left him bedridden.
- Despite the severity of his injury, he remained determined to overcome his condition and find a way to move forward with his life.
- He managed to complete a rehabilitation program in just six months and was introduced to wheelchair rugby by an American boy in the hospital.
- Saroha became the first quadriplegic to take up the sport in India and eventually shifted his focus to individual sports due to the lack of proper training facilities.
- After consulting with experts, he determined that his disability category would be 52 or TH and learned about the upcoming Commonwealth Games and the inclusion of a short put event in his category.
- Despite the challenges posed by his disability, he began training for the short put event and aimed to represent his country at the Commonwealth Games or international level.
- He faced numerous challenges as a disabled athlete, including the lack of support from coaches and difficulties in participating in sports due to his disability.
- He persisted and eventually fought for his selection in the Commonwealth Games, successfully advocating for his right to participate in sports despite his disability.
Achievements and Challenges
- Saroha won a gold medal in his first event at the National Championship and was selected for the Commonwealth Games but missed out on a medal due to his disability.
- He won a silver medal at the Asian Para Games in China, which was his first medal for his country and also an Asian record.
- He missed out on a medal at the 2012 Paralympic Games but received the prestigious Arjuna Award from the Indian government in 2013.
- At the 2014 Asian Para Games, he showcased his best performance, winning a gold and a silver medal while breaking two Asian records.
- He won a silver medal at the 2015 World Championships in Doha, securing a quota for the Olympics.
- He broke the world record at the 2016 Paralympic trials and qualified for the Paralympic Games but ended up winning the bronze medal due to unexpected circumstances.
- He won a silver medal at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships and set a new Asian record.
- He won the gold medal at the 2018 Asian Para Games and the 2019 Para Asian Games.
- He was preparing for the 2020 Paralympic Games but faced challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overcoming Obstacles and Success
- Despite facing numerous challenges, including a severe spinal cord injury, lack of support, and training difficulties, Amit Saroha persevered and achieved remarkable success as a para-athlete.
- He represented India at major international competitions, winning medals at the Asian Para Games, World Championships, and Paralympic Games.
- His determination, hard work, and unwavering spirit allowed him to overcome obstacles and become a world-class athlete.
