Yogesh Kathuniya overcame the odds to win medals for India. He shares his story with Brut.
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00:00I was ready to go to Goldie, but I became India's Silverman.
00:04Colonel Rekha Mittal used to say, I remember her name very well.
00:08She used to say, this will never work.
00:10She didn't believe it, so she told my mother,
00:13I want to salute such a mother that she gave birth to her son.
00:23Yogesh, at what age did you start playing discus throw?
00:26In 2006, we were coming from Vaishnodevi.
00:31It was a summer vacation.
00:33At that time, I was in the 4th grade.
00:36So I went to my grandmother.
00:39While playing, I fell.
00:41I didn't understand, so my family thought it must have happened.
00:43At that time, I had a G.B. syndrome attack.
00:46It's a type of neurological disorder.
00:48It's a virus, it can happen to anyone.
00:50So I didn't understand, so after 3-4 days, I stopped playing.
00:54Then I got admitted in Chandigarh.
00:56There, when I was diagnosed, I came to know that I have G.B. syndrome.
01:01Earlier, the doctor said polio, but at the age of 9, polio is impossible.
01:04It can't happen to anyone.
01:05At that time, I was given an injection of Rs. 9 lakh in 2006.
01:09So my family was not in such a good condition to save money.
01:12But still, I did it.
01:14I was on a wheelchair for 3 years.
01:15My mother did physio.
01:17There was a lot of improvement from physio.
01:19It started working.
01:20Colonel Rekha Mittal used to say, I remember her name very well.
01:23She used to say, this will never work.
01:25Because it is very difficult for someone to walk in G.B. syndrome.
01:29There is only 1% chance in the whole world that they can walk.
01:32So I was in that 1%.
01:34As soon as I started walking, my mother, after 3-4 years...
01:38I mean, we used to go for diagnosis.
01:40My medicine used to work.
01:41At that time, she didn't believe it.
01:42So my mother said, I want to salute such a mother that she gave birth to her son.
01:49In school, they used to bully me a lot.
01:51But I didn't think so much.
01:55When I came to college, my life changed there.
01:57As soon as I got admission in Rudimal College, I made so many good friends.
02:01I had such a good family.
02:04My senior, Sachin Yadav, told me that there are such parachutes.
02:09You should also try.
02:10At that time, I wasn't so involved.
02:14But he forced me to take it.
02:15So as soon as I saw, this is a different thing.
02:18If we do this, it will help a lot.
02:22It will help in fitness.
02:23So I started according to that.
02:25When I went to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium for the first time,
02:28I saw the discus throw only.
02:29Since then, I started doing discus only.
02:32Winning silver again.
02:34Season's best with 42.22-meter throw.
02:38Back-to-back silver.
02:39How was the feeling?
02:40At that time, I was ready to take the gold.
02:44But unfortunately, I got stuck in the competition.
02:49But yes, I have become the silver man of India back-to-back.
02:52It's okay that silver is consistent.
02:54I am walking stagnant.
02:56Back-to-back silver, silver, silver.
02:59When I was going near the podium,
03:01people were making noise and clapping.
03:05I had forgotten everything.
03:06I had forgotten all the disappointment.
03:07After that, I didn't understand anything.
03:10Now this is it.
03:11So I was very happy.
03:12When you won the medal for the first time,
03:14and now when you have won the medal,
03:16how many things have changed for you in terms of facilities?
03:19It has increased a lot since the last time.
03:22There is a lot of support from PSI and PCI.
03:26Last time, I didn't have anyone with me.
03:27And now I have physio and coaches.
03:29If I need anything, I have it.
03:33You win half of the game if your coach and physio are there.
03:37How can we inspire others to play Parasports?
03:40Children who are at home,
03:43who have a disability,
03:44who think about what to do and what not to do.
03:48You have the option of Parasports.
03:50You have the option of studies.
03:51You can do a lot of things.
03:54The things that you don't have to suppress in society.
03:59You go out, you play, be happy.
04:02This is it. You will be happy.
04:03Try sports once.
04:04I am telling you the truth, you will be very happy.