‘Mumma has always assured him he is no different from others’: Sister of Paralympic silver medalist Nishad Kumar

What is that word that is practically a staple in Paralympic Games commercials, plastered all over promotional materials, and tossed around in everyday encounters like those at the grocery store? Athletes are so bombarded with it that it is practically their second language.

The word is ‘inspiration'.

Ironically, this term of ‘endearment' often has the exact opposite effect. Instead of celebrating their achievements, it tends to overshadow them by spotlighting their disabilities, making them seem like exotic anomalies rather than accomplished athletes.

It is as if the sheer novelty of their participating in sports somehow diminishes the years of grueling training and relentless dedication they have poured into their craft. The word so often carries a whiff of pity, implying that their athleticism is so surprising it almost undermines their hard-earned success.

No such word as ‘can't'

"Mumma, as a sportswoman herself, has always encouraged bhai to take sports seriously and assured him that he is no different from others (able-bodied athletes) in any manner. At home, we have always treated him like everyone else," says a proud Rama Devi, sister of silver medallist Nishad Kumar, who set a new Asian record with a remarkable jump of 2.06 meters in the men's high jump T47 class in Paris earlier this week.

Also Read: Pakistan cricket just died a thousand deaths

Many of Nishad's peers echo Devi's sentiments with gusto.

While there has been a slight uptick in interest in the Paralympics, para-athletes are still slogging through a relentless battle for the spotlight and equal recognition. They are perpetually on the front lines, advocating for an event that, despite their best efforts, is often confused with the Special Olympics.

It is almost endearing how the Paralympics, despite its growing visibility, still seem to slip through the cracks of public awareness, as if they are perpetually stuck in the shadow of the Special Olympics. The struggle for proper acknowledgment is an ongoing saga, marked by the irony of increased interest yet persistent misidentification.

"We were expecting gold this time. He would always tell us that he was aiming to bring gold from Paris. When he phoned us, he sounded upset at not winning gold, and said he did not execute his jump according to the plan," she says.

Kumar, a proud recipient of the Arjuna Award, boasts a glittering array of achievements: a bronze medal in the men's T47 high jump at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, followed by a dazzling gold at the 2021 World Para Athletics Grand Prix, also in Dubai, and another gold at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China. Quite an impressive resume for someone who had an unconventional start.

"The accident happened when Bhai was in fourth grade. He started playing sports a year later. He would always remain busy with running, helping Papa on the farm, and other activities. Papa also had a big role to play in his career, he always ensured Bhai stayed away from troublemakers, always closely watching over him like a shadow," she adds.

Taking control

What had begun for Kumar as a happy childhood, loving parents, a younger sister, and long days playing sports after school, faded into obscurity in a single moment of disaster.

In a moment of youthful misadventure, Kumar accidentally severed his arm while tinkering with a grass chaff cutter machine at home. One might say he turned a potential career in the "how-not-to" manual into a triumph in the sporting arena, but he just didn't know yet.

When the accident struck, Kumar's only concern was whether he could still enlist in the Indian Army. As if coping with a devastating injury wasn't enough, Kumar's concern was to ensure that his military aspirations remained intact. The doctors, clearly intent on preserving his optimism, did everything they could to sidestep the possibility of crushing his dreams.

The depression and despair didn't go away, but eventually, Kumar did go back to his faith.

Mother Pushpa Devi, a district-level athlete herself, evidently saw the potential for a glorious sports career amid this disaster. With her inspiring example, Kumar transitioned from being an accidental amputee to a sports sensation, demonstrating an almost heroic capacity to turn a tragic mishap into an extraordinary athletic journey.

Naturally, Kumar has become the reigning celebrity of his village. Each time he returns with another medal, his entourage of friends roll out the red carpet in the form of oversized cut-outs and extravagant welcomes, Devi says. "The villagers turned up in huge numbers on the day Bhai won silver. They began assembling at our house in the afternoon, although his match was late at night. We are waiting to welcome him with great enthusiasm. Mumma and Papa are so proud of him," she adds.

Kumar, never one to shy away from a podium finish, had previously bagged a silver in Tokyo three years ago, where he cleared a respectable 2.06 meters. The T47 classification, for those unfamiliar, is reserved for athletes with below-elbow or wrist impairments, a category where Kumar made his mark.

His two Paralympic medals are lauded not merely as personal achievements but as emblematic of his unyielding resolve to serve India in any way possible. The medals aren't just metal and ribbons, they are a dramatic showcase of his refusal to be deterred. Instead of letting an accident rewrite his dreams, Kumar turned a disaster into a statement of relentless ambition and nationalistic fervor, with the Paralympic podium serving as his battlefield.

Kumar's heroics will appeal not only to those who tend to get mistily sentimental over petty failures but also to ones who know that victory over time is the hardest of all for any athlete.

Delicate skills can plummet fast and far. The body can disobey. The mindset may desert the athlete suddenly. But here is Kumar, with a success that more often than not highlights the rare quality of durability that underline the careers of people like him.

But, he continues. To fight back, to live again!