THE WINNING FORMULA

Krishna Nagar had just won India’s fifth gold medal at the Paralympics in Tokyo, taking the total tally to 19. The record was impressive by itself—54 athletes winning 19 medals, including 5 golds. It was even more impressive when one considers that India’s total medal tally between 1968, when it first participated in the Paralympics, and 2016, when it won four medals, was 12. Deepa Malik, president of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), was elated, though the victory also brought with it a pleasant dilemma. “The PCI isn’t a very rich organisation,” she says, “but we are committed to honouring our athletes. We had ordered gold bracelets for each of our medal winners as tokens of gratitude and affection. We had ordered 15 and now I have the happy problem of increasing the number!” For the first time in India’s sporting history, the result at a Games at this level had exceeded expectations. However, this isn’t a flash in the pan—it could be said the result proves that a process that began in 2004 is gaining momentum.

In 2004, when Devendra Jhajharia, a javelin , (If you return victorious, things will change, else nothing will).” Today, Devendra’s father is no more, but the “” he spoke of has arrived. With Devendra’s gold medal in 2004, the government of India for the first time accorded recognition to the PCI. In 2021, with a landmark 19 medals, including a third medal from Devendra, the change has well and truly arrived.