Powerlifting passion despite disability

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 2

September 19, 2002, can never be forgotten by ASI Parvinder Singh, a Punjab Police para powerlifter. It still haunts him as on this day he lost his ability to stand on his feet. However, this did not deter him from realising his dream and even after becoming 100 per cent disabled, he continued to follow his passion of powerlifting.

The 45-year-old player says an accident can cripple a sportsman, but not his sportsmanship. “I was 27-year-old when a road accident left me paraplegic. I was heading to my home after the practice session when a vehicle hit my bike shattering my dream. When I was being taken to a hospital, the only thing running in my mind was that I would not be able play anymore.

“I slipped into depression which slowed down my recovery process. For three years, I remained bed-ridden and later became dependent on wheelchair. While I was struggling to come out of depression, my friend and coach Rajinder Singh Rahelu, an Arjuna Awardee para powerlifter, motivated me to get into sport again. With an unsound body and mind, I decided to take up the sport again. In his first National Para Powerlifting Championship (2006), held in Jaipur, he won a gold medal and became a national champion. Since then there has been no looking back and after representing Punjab in national events, I got opportunities to represent India in international championships,” added Parvinder.

A resident of Phillaur, he joined the Punjab Armed Police in 1994 due to his excellent achievements in powerlifting. After participating in paralympics, he created history by clinching a bronze medal in the 2009 IWAS World Games. This is the only medal in the Indian history of para powerlifting won by a disabled player with spinal cord injury.

To encourage men and women with disabilities to join sports, he is running Para Sports Academy at his home and is training budding para powerlifters free of cost. He also formed Punjab State Para Powerlifting team that won the 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2019 national championships. His 12 players have also been honoured with the State Award for Disabled Sports by the Punjab Government.

His major achievements

Bronze medal in IWAS World Games, Bengaluru (2009); 5th rank in APC Asia Paralympics Powerlifting Cup, Malaysia (2007); 4th rank in British Para Powerlifting Championship, Coventry, UK (2018); 5th rank in IPC Athletics Games, Prix, Dubai (2014); and gold medal in National Paralympic Powerlifting Championship, Nagpur (2019).