It’s evening time and Khel Ratna Award winner Devendra Jhanjharia has not taken rest. His phone is continuously ringing with the well-wishers, friends and sports lovers congratulating this two-time parabolic gold medalist for having bestowed with the Khel Ratna award by President Ramnath Kovind on Tuesday.
It’s evening time and Khel Ratna Award winner Devendra Jhanjharia has not taken rest. His phone is continuously ringing with the well-wishers, friends and sports lovers congratulating this two-time parabolic gold medalist for having bestowed with the Khel Ratna award by President Ramnath Kovind on Tuesday.
He is the first paraolympian to receive this prestigious award and is the only second sportsperson from Rajasthan to receive this award after Rajyavardhan Rathore.
The 36-year-old paraolympian, who lost his left hand due to electrocution when he was merely 8 years, is now a role model for the differently abled.
“22 years ago, when I took up sports, people said why are you trying and what is paraolympics? Now many other differently abled will be encouraged to take up sports,” said an elated Jhanjharia speaking to dna from Delhi.
The javelin thrower belongs to Churu and had won gold medal in 2016 at Rio paraolympics and in 2004 at Athens paraolympics. But much before this, he made a name for himself at district level and national level championships.
He has a long list of medals and awards including becoming champion in Lyon world championship in 2013 and winning silver medal for the country at Incheon Asian Games in 2014.
In 2015 again, he won silver, this time at Doha championship. His most memorable performance, however, his winning gold at Athens paraolympics. He had set a new world record with a throw of 62.15 m.
When the award was declared in August this year, speaking to DNA he had said that he was feeling very happy and elated and had expressed the hope that he would excel once again at the Asian para games to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, in October 2018
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Devendra Jhanjharia")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}