Paralympics is for impaired athletes what the Olympics is for the rest. For sports aficionados, both the quadrennial events draw similar reactions — and both, the artistic gymnastics (Olympics) and wheelchair tennis (Paralympics) have the power to make us go 'Wow'.
On Tuesday, India's Devendra Jhajharia won his second individual gold in the Paralympics and took big strides towards achieving a legendary status. Is he one of India's greatest sportspersons ever? Has to be. Abhinav Bindra, in 2008, became the only Olympics gold medallist in an individual event and the record has stayed that way so far.
Devendra, 35, however has two golds from the biggest-ever sporting event for the para-athletes. He had won a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Paralympics, where he also created a world record in the men's Javelin Throw F46 event. Had the sporting event made an appearance in the 2008 and the 2012 Paralympics as well, Devendra could well have bagged four gold medals by now.
The gifted athlete from the Churu district of Rajasthan not only won the gold yet again in the Paralympics 2016, but also shattered his existing record to create yet another world record. Devendra recorded a throw of 63.97m in the Rio Paralympics. His throw at Athens Paralympics measured 62.15m.
Devendra's wife Manju cannot control the excitement seeing her husband achieve greatness in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and has mentioned that she was assured by him that he would break the world record again to bag the gold.
"Talked to him [Devendra] yesterday, [he] assured me he will break his previous record and win Gold again," Manju told ANI. "[I am] Very happy and proud as he has become 1st Indian Paralympian to win two gold medals at the Paralympics."
The 35-year-old athlete will now receive Rs. 75 lakh from the ministry of sports, and Rs. 75 lakh, a 200 sq. m. plot in Jaipur and 25 bighas of land in Ganganagar from the Government of Rajasthan.
Wednesday morning turned yet another good one for the billions of Indians and the gifted athlete was soon the talk all over Twitter.
Congratulations to Devendra Jhajharia for the historic and well-deserved Gold at the Paralympics. We are very proud of him.
- Narendra Modi, India Prime Minister
Congratulations Devendra Jhajharia for the gold medal at Paralympics! Another spectacular throw! We are proud of you!
- Anil Kumble, India cricket team coach
T 2379 - Another Gold at Paralympics for Devendra Jhajharia ..! Incredible feat .. You have given all Indians great Pride ..! COME ON INDIA
- Amitabh Bachchan, legendary Indian actor
Watch Devendra Jhajharia's performance from the Paralympics 2016
