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Yuvaraja Karunakaran

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Chandu Champion: The story that inspires India Paralympics athletes

Chandu Champion: The story that inspires India Paralympics athletes

Chandu Champion: The story that inspires India Paralympics athletes

The excitement isn't over as we bid farewell to the Paris Olympics 2024. In just a few weeks, we'll have another chance to cheer our fellow Indian athletes. The 2024 Paralympic Games are just around the corner and will run from August 28 to September 8, with the Opening Ceremony on Wednesday, August 28. This year, over 4,400 athletes will compete in 22 sports, spanning 549 events. The 2024 Summer Paralympics promises to be a spectacular 11-day event. India is the land of varied cultures, united spirits and classic movies. Since independence, Indian moviemakers have come up with exciting sports movies that have ignited the spirit of nationalism among the Indian audience leading to India’s cultural transformation. In this blog, we take a look at Kartik Aaryan's Chandu Champion- the story that inspires India Paralympics athletes.

Chandu Champion: The story that inspires India Paralympics athletes

1. The story of Murlikant Rajaram Petkar, who won India's First Paralympic Gold Medal

Amidst all the excitement of the Paris Paralympics 2024, Director Kabir Khan and actor Kartik Aaryan's film "Chandu Champion" has inspired India Paralympics athletes. Muralikant Rajaram Petkar was India's first-ever Paralympic gold medallist. Murlikant clinched the gold medal in the 50 m freestyle swimming at the Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games. Back then, he had set a world record in swimming with an impressive 37.33 seconds. His career began in the Boys Battalion of the Indian Army, which saw him rise through the ranks to reach the war grounds of Pakistan in 1965. When his army camp came under aerial firing from Pakistani troops, he was left with multiple bullet wounds and was also run over by an army vehicle. The unfortunate incident rendered him a paraplegic for life.

But before his army stint, he was an enthusiastic participant in many sports while specialising in boxing. He even won the national title in boxing in 1965 but once the injury marked his life, he had to let go of his mastered passion and switch to swimming for rehabilitation purposes. Petkar used all available resources to train hard in the sport. Murlikant went on to participate in the 1968 Tel Aviv Paralympics and reached the finals in javelin throw and slalom racing along with bagging a gold in the 1972 Heidelberg Paralympics. He also clinched a gold medal at the 1970 Edinburgh Commonwealth Paraplegic Games. His efforts were finally recognised in 2018 when he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Indian government.

2. When do the Paris Paralympics 2024 start?

The Paris Paralympics 2024 will run from August 28 to September 8, with the Opening Ceremony on Wednesday, August 28. The Paralympics begins on Thursday, August 29. In this edition, there are 22 sports in 23 disciplines and a total of 549 events. Fans can catch 16 sports in action on Saturday, August 31. The opening ceremony of this summer’s Paralympics takes place on Wednesday, August 28. The final day of the competition as well as the closing ceremony is on Sunday, September 8. The start times will be similar to the Paris Olympics 2024 with early starts and events throughout the day.

3. Pramod Bhagat is set to miss the Paris Paralympics 2024

The 2024 Paralympic Games will run from August 28 to September 8 showcasing athletes from around the globe. Unfortunately, Tokyo Paralympics gold medallist para shuttler Pramod Bhagat is set to miss the Paris Paralympics 2024 after being found guilty of breaching the BWF anti-doping regulations. Pramod Bhagat has now appealed this decision to the CAS Appeals Division. A statement from BWF on Tuesday, August 13 morning confirmed Bhagat’s ineligibility to participate in the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Fans in the Indian subcontinent will be able to catch all the live action on TV and live streaming from the 100 Sports Management.

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