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Devendra Jhajharia, a paralympic athlete recently won a silver medal at the prestigious Tokyo Paralympics 2020 and upheld his winning streak at the international sports event. A star sportsman throughout his school and college life, Jhajharia is a Javelin thrower and the only Indian to win two gold medals at Olympics. In this blog, let’s find out more about India’s unbreakable star and most promising athlete, Devendra Jhajharia!
Devendra Jhajharia, India’s Most Successful Paralympic Athlete
Devendra Jhajharia (born June 10, 1981) is a Paralympic javelin thrower from India. He is the first and only Indian Paralympic athlete to win two gold medals in the Olympic games. At the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, he won his first gold medal in the javelin throw, becoming his country’s second gold medalist at the Paralympics. Devendra Jhajharia won a second gold medal in the same event at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, breaking his previous record. The Olympic Gold Quest is currently sponsoring Devendra.
| Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna | 2017 |
| FICCI Para-Sportsperson of the Year | 2014 |
| Padma Shri | 2012: the first Paralympian to be so honored |
| Arjuna Award | 2004 |
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Early Life & Education
Devendra Jhajharia was born in the Churu District of Rajasthan in 1981. He happened to come into contact with a live electric cable while climbing a tree when he was eight years old. He was treated, but doctors had no choice but to humanely euthanize his left hand. While competing at a school sports day in 1997, he was noticed by Dronacharya Awardee coach R. D. Singh, and he was coached by Singh from then on. “He gives me a lot of advice and helps me during training,” he said about his personal coach R. D. Singh, who helped him win the 2004 Paralympic Gold Medal.
Sunil Tanwar has been his coach since 2015. Devendra Jhajharia, a former employee of the Indian Railways, is now working with the Rajasthan Forest Department. Manju, his wife, is a former national kabaddi player, and the couple has two children.
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Journey From Rajasthan to Tokyo Paralympics 2020
Devendra Jhajharia won gold at the 8th FESPIC Games in South Korea in 2002. Jhajharia qualified for his first Summer Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece, in 2004. He broke the previous world record of 59.77m by setting a new one of 62.15m at the games. The throw earned him the gold medal, making him India’s second gold medalist at the Paralympics (Murlikant Petkar won India’s first gold medal).
In 2013, Devendra Jhajharia added to his athletic achievements by winning the gold medal in the F46 javelin throw at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France. After that, he won silver in the 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea. Despite throwing a championship-record distance of 59.06 meters, Jhajharia placed second in the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha, claiming silver behind China’s Guo Chunliang.
Devendra Jhajharia won the 2016 IPC Athletics Asia-Oceania Championship in Dubai with a gold medal. He won gold in the men’s javelin throw F46 event at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, breaking his own 2004 world record with a throw of 63.97 meters.
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Devendra Jhajharia at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Games
Devendra Jhajharia, India’s finest Paralympian, rewrote his own world record when he punched his ticket to the Tokyo Paralympics at a national selection trial. “As a youngster, I heard a lot of things,” Jhajharia added. “I wouldn’t be permitted to enter the premises. They used to make fun of me, saying things like, “tera ek haath hi nahi hai, throw kaise karega (You don’t have one hand, how are you going to throw)?”, shared Devendra Jhajharia with one of the news journalists.
India has won two gold medals in the Paralympics thanks to Jhajharia’s one hand, and he will be aiming for a third at the Tokyo Paralympics, which begin on August 24.
Devendra Jhajharia is the first Indian to have won two individual gold medals in the Olympics or Paralympics, in the F46 javelin throw at the 2004 Athens and 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. Both throws were world records: 62.15 meters in Athens and 63.97 meters in Rio.
On 30 August 2021, Devendra Jhajharia won the silver medal for his performance at the world’s largest sporting event. He surpassed his own record with a throw of 64.35 meters. A personal best won him and India a proud moment at the Tokyo Paralympics.
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This was all about India’s finest sportsman, Devendra Jhajharia, and his incredible performance at the Tokyo Paralympics. Looking to merge your passion with your career? Then contact Leverage Edu experts today at 1800 572 000 for their expert guidance and counseling.
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