Devendra Jhajharia receives Padma Bhushan, first para athlete to take action

The legendary Devendra Jhajharia on Monday turned the primary para athlete to obtain the Padma Bhushan, the nation’s third highest civilian award.

The 40-year-old Jhajharia obtained the celebrated award from President Ram Nath Kovind on the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Jhajharia is a multiple-time Paralympics medal winner, having received his maiden gold in the course of the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, his second gold medal in the course of the Rio Games in 2016, and a silver medal in the course of the 2020 Tokyo version final yr.

The javelin thrower competes within the F46 occasions within the Paralympics and was among the many 4 Paralympic medallists to be conferred with the Padma awards this yr.

President Kovind presents Padma Bhushan to Shri Devendra Jhajharia for Sports. He is the primary Indian Para-Javelin thrower and the primary Indian para-athlete to win two gold medals at Paralympics. pic.twitter.com/hIiQNcAf1V

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 21, 2022

Tokyo Paralympics double medallist shooter Avani Lekhara obtained the Padma Shri for her glorious displaying final yr.

Lekhara received a gold medal within the 10m air rifle standing occasion and a bronze within the 50m rifle 3 positions occasion.

Honoured and grateful to be awarded the Padma Shri. This award is a testomony to not solely my efforts, however the sacrifices of my household and the help of everybody concerned in my profession serving to me obtain all I’ve. I stay up for representing the nation with the identical ardour! https://t.co/Y7FgPKBLlU

— Avani Lekhara अवनी लेखरा (@AvaniLekhara) March 21, 2022

Alongside Jhajharia and Lekhara, gold medal-winning javelin thrower Sumit Anil, gold medallist in badminton Pramod Bhagat have been the opposite Paralympic stars to be conferred with the honour.

That he has achieved a primary was not misplaced on Jhajharia.

“This is the first time a para athlete has got the Padma Bhushan, and I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this. Now I will have more responsibility towards the country, to win more medals for India,” Jhajharia mentioned.

“To the youth, I will say work hard. One minute of work will not get you anything. I have worked hard for the past 20 years, 2002 was the first time I won a gold medal,” he added.

Lekhara tweeted, “Honoured and grateful to be awarded the Padma Shri. This award is a testomony to not solely my efforts, however the sacrifices of my household and the help of everybody concerned in my profession serving to me obtain all I’ve.

“I look forward to representing the country with the same passion!” PTI AH AH