Paralympic high jump champion Praveen Kumar expressed immense pride and gratitude upon being honored with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. He attributed the growing prominence of para-sports in India to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to promote inclusivity in sports.
Kumar clinched a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics in the men’s T64 high jump category with a remarkable 2.08m jump, setting a new Asian record. This achievement followed his silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, where he also broke the Asian record with a 2.07m jump.
Kumar expressed gratitude, stating that para-sports have gained well-deserved recognition under PM Modi’s leadership. He described being named a Khel Ratna awardee as a great honor and reaffirmed his commitment to achieving greater success for the nation.
The prestigious award for 2024 will also recognize chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju, ace shooter Manu Bhaker, and hockey star Harmanpreet Singh. The ceremony, led by President Droupadi Murmu, is set for 17 January at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Hailing from Govindgarh in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, Kumar has become a global icon in para-athletics. As the youngest Indian para-athlete to win a medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, his journey from adversity to success is inspirational. Born with a leg length discrepancy, Kumar initially struggled with self-confidence but found purpose and strength through sports, starting with volleyball.
A pivotal moment came when Kumar participated in a high jump event for able-bodied athletes. Encouraged by the experience, he transitioned to para-athletics under the guidance of coach Satyapal Singh, leading to a string of remarkable achievements.
Kumar’s accolades include a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Para Games (2.05m jump, Asian record), a bronze at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championship, and a silver at the 2019 World Para Athletics Junior Championship in Switzerland. He also captured gold at the 2021 FAZZA Grand Prix in Dubai, breaking another Asian record.
Through perseverance and dedication, Kumar continues to inspire millions while raising the profile of para-sports on the global stage.
