After 45 Years, India's First Paralympic Gold Medallist Is Finally Getting 'Official' Recognition With A Padma Shri
He won a gold in swimming at the 1972 Paralympics.
India's first Paralympics gold medallist, Pune's Murlikant Petkar, finally got 'official' recognition of his achievement 45 years after he won the yellow metal in 1972 Paralympics in Heidelberg, Germany.
The swimmer was conferred with Padma Shri according to the list announced by the government.
Petkar had won the gold in 50m freestyle swimming with a world record timing of 37.33 seconds.
"I am overwhelmed today. Finally my efforts have been recognised by the government. I am thankful to the government for honouring me, as I had lost almost all the hopes of getting a State honour," Petkar told TOI.
The war-veteran's joy was special as the Padma honour came as a surprise. "I had applied for the Arjuna Award thrice, but it was rejected every time. When I applied for the Arjuna last year, I was told that the policies have been changed and it would be difficult for me to get the Arjuna 44 years after my medal. But I was assured that something would be done. I am pleasantly surprised that I have been conferred with Padma Shri," he added.
He thanked GO Sports foundation and Rahul Dravid for their efforts in getting Petkar's achievements reach the right ears. "Rahul Dravid, Abhinav Bindra and others at the GO Sports Foundation have done a lot to push my case at the ministry level. I am sure this award is a result of their efforts and blessings of many," Petkar added.
Born in Kanderi village, near Sangli, Petkar, 70, had represented the Indian Army's Boys' Battalion at national-level boxing.
As a young boy, Petkar had won many boxing medals for the army, including the nationals.
After winning the National title in 1965, Petkar was asked by his seniors about the gift he wanted from them for winning the gold. "I had not seen Kashmir then, so I told them to send me to Kashmir on a holiday," Petkar says.
"I was 18 then and was excited to see Kashmir. But when I went there, war broke out between India and Pakistan. I was not trained for war and was sleeping in my bunker when an emergency alarm rang. I thought it was an alarm for tea break and went out of my bunker. But then suddenly I saw Pakistani fighter planes raining bullets at us," he remembers vividly. Petkar was injured by seven bullets that paralyzed the lower half of his body. "Six bullets were removed, one is still there in my spinal cord."
