Who is Kapil Parmar, the first Indian to win a medal in Judo at Paralympics?
The 23-year-old from Sehore in Madhya Pradesh is the youngest of four brothers and a sister, and his father works as a taxi driver. As a child, Parmar had a life-altering accident when he was playing in the fields of his village and accidentally touched a water pump, resulting in a severe electric shock.
Kapil Parmar on Thursday created history by winning India's first-ever Paralympic medal in judo in the ongoing Paris 2024 Games. Parmar won a bronze in the men's 60kg (J1), defeating Brazil's Elielton de Oliveira in the play-off.
CREDIT: REUTERS
The J1 class in para judo is for athletes who suffer from no to very low visual activity. Athletes in this category wear red circles to indicate that they may need guided support before, during, and after a contest.
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¡ª Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) September 5, 2024
Kapil Parmar made history, defeating World No. 2 Elielton de Oliveira by Ippon to claim the bronze in the men -60kg J1 event at Paris 2024 Paralympics. ?#Paris2024 | #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/SaSCZ3Yf3z
Also read: From Devendra Jhajharia to Avani Lekhara: The most decorated Indian Paralympic athletes
Who is Kapil Parmar?
The 23-year-old from Sehore in Madhya Pradesh is the youngest of four brothers and a sister, and his father works as a taxi driver.
While one of his sisters worked in a school, Parmar used to run a tea stall with his brother Lalit to make ends meet.
Parmar's life has been a battle in which he once narrowly defeated death at a young age.
CREDIT: REUTERS
How he lost his vision
As a child, Parmar had a life-altering accident when he was playing in the fields of his village and accidentally touched a water pump, resulting in a severe electric shock.
He was found unconscious by a villager and taken to the hospital, where he remained in a coma for six months. His eyes were severely impacted, and he competes in the J1 class where competitors have lost 90 percent of their vision.
CREDIT: REUTERS
India's medal tally reaches 25
Parmar's medal took India's tally in the Paralympic Games in Paris to 25 ¡ª five gold, nine silver, and 11 bronze medals. The country currently occupies the 14th position in the overall medals tally.
Modi congratulates Kapil Parmar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated Parmar for his memorable performance in Paris.
A very memorable sporting performance and a special medal!
¡ª Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 5, 2024
Congratulations to Kapil Parmar, as he becomes the first-ever Indian to win a medal in Judo at the Paralympics. Congrats to him for winning a Bronze in the Men's 60kg J1 event at the #Paralympics2024! Best wishes for his¡ pic.twitter.com/JYtpEf2CtI
"A very memorable sporting performance and a special medal. Congratulations to Kapil Parmar, as he becomes the first-ever Indian to win a medal in Judo at the Paralympics. Congrats to him for winning a Bronze in the Men's 60kg J1 event at the #Paralympics2024! Best wishes for his endeavours ahead," the PM said in a social media post.
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Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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