Overjoyed Paralympic Legend Murlikant Petkar Sees Final Wish Granted with Prestigious Arjuna Award

January 3, 2025 2 Min Read

Mumbai, Jan 2: India’s first Paralympic gold medallist, Murlikant Rajaram Petkar, expressed his joy after being nominated for the prestigious Arjuna Award in the Lifetime category. This recognition by the Sports Ministry comes 52 years after his groundbreaking victory at the 1972 Paralympic Games in Heidelberg, Germany, where he clinched a gold medal in the men’s 50m freestyle swimming, marking India’s first individual gold in Olympic or Paralympic history.

Despite his extraordinary achievements, Petkar’s contributions were largely overlooked for decades due to the lack of recognition for para-sports at the time. However, the 80-year-old Petkar remains grateful, expressing happiness at finally receiving the honor. He previously received the Padma Shri award in 2018 under the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and this Arjuna Award serves as a further acknowledgment.

Petkar and his son Arjun extended their gratitude to all supporters, including the Indian Army and the Sports Authority of India. They also thanked filmmaker Kabir Khan, whose biopic “Chandu Champion” brought Petkar’s inspiring story to the forefront.

Today, para-athletes receive more recognition, as seen with the awarding of the Khel Ratna to high jump gold medallist Praveen Kumar from the 2024 Paralympic Games. This year, the Arjuna Award shortlist includes 17 para-sportspersons, emphasizing the growing respect for para-athletes.

Looking forward, Petkar envisions India securing 50 medals at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games, building on the 29 medals achieved at the Paris Games, surpassing the Paralympic Committee of India’s target.

The revered athlete’s nomination and his optimistic outlook signify a promising future for para-sports in India.

Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/01/02/my-final-wish-is-fulfilled-paralympic-legend-murlikant-petkar-elated-on-getting-arjuna-award/
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Publish Date: 2025-01-02 21:49:00