Paralympian gets Rs 7.8 cr reward keeps promise made to mother

‘Saat crore’… schoolchildren screamed, imitating Amitabh Bachchan from the famous ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ TV show, as soon as the name of para athlete Nishad Kumar was announced at a function in Shimla today. The six-feet-four-inch tall Nishad, who won a silver medal in the Tokyo and Paris Paralympics and, a gold medal in the Asian Para Games, walked away with a mindboggling reward of Rs 7.80 crore. The function was organised by the Sports Department to reward sportspersons who had brought laurels to the country in international sports competitions over the last few years.

For Nishad, the huge reward marked the fulfilment of a promise he had made to his mother when the family was struggling to fund his training. “A few years ago, when I was training to become a world class high jumper, I had called up my mother to send me Rs 5,000. It was a big amount as our financial condition wasn’t good. At that moment, I promised my mother that one day I would earn so much money that you wouldn’t have space to keep it. I think I’ve fulfilled that promise today,” said Nishad.

The journey to winning medals and earning massive cash awards has been as tough as it gets. Nishad was born in a small village near Una in a small-time farmer family. When he was seven, he accidentally lost his hand in a machine. Undeterred, he chose to pursue athletic events like high jump and long jump in schools. “My mother was herself a sportswoman. Even though my hand was amputated, she and my father never discouraged me from participating in sports,” recalled Nishad.

After passing out from the school, Nishad learnt about para sports and managed to get himself enrolled under coaches at Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Panchkula, Haryana. In 2018, he announced his arrival at the national level with a silver medal in National Games. A year later, he won a bronze in a world championship, followed by medals in Asian Para Games in Tokyo and Paris Paralympics. “It’s been a tough journey, but I am glad I have managed to achieve what I wanted to. I want to tell children to pursue sports with dedication. Sports can change lives,” he said.

Nishad’s father seemed too overwhelmed by the occasion and the achievement of his son. “We have gone through very difficult times. I was a farmer, worked as a mason, sold vegetables on cycle, but I am glad my hard work has paid off. My son has changed our life,” said the proud father.