Who is Paralympics Winner Murlikant Petkar?

When one talks about the Paralympics, who can forget the Paralympic winner Murlikant Petkar? The name itself speaks volumes like other famous personalities who are physically challenged yet have achieved greater heights and broken several records. His journey from a soldier to a swimmer shows the power of perseverance and determination. In 1972, he made history at the Paralympic Games in Heidelberg, Germany by winning a gold medal in the 50-meter freestyle swimming competition, setting a world record time of 37.33 seconds. Let us learn more about this legendary champion in the blog.

Overview: Paralympics Winner Murlikant Petkar
Full Name	Murlikant Rajaram Petkar
Date of Birth	November 1, 1944
Place of Birth	Peth Islampur, Sangli, Maharashtra
Paralympic Gold Medal	1972, Heidelberg, Germany
Event	50m Freestyle Swimming, Paralympic Games
World Record Time	37.33 seconds
Military Service	Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), Indian Army
Awards	Padma Shri (2018)
Achievements	1970 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games Gold Medal

Who is Paralympics Winner Murlikant Petkar?

Murlikant Rajaram Petkar was born on November 1st 1944 in Peth Islampur, Sangli, Maharashtra in the pre-independent India. From a young age, he was inclined towards sports, and wrestling and played hockey during his school years. 

He remembers the star Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav, who won in the Olympics in 1952, when Petkar was just 8 years old. Petkar narrated to Forbes how he was inspired by just getting a glimpse of Jadhav sitting on his brother’s shoulder, and he decided that he would also one day win a medal. 

Petkar recalls the unbelievable victory celebration, he walked 20 km from his village to see Jadhav. “There was tremendous energy and enthusiasm among the people gathered there. Taken in by the response to his win and the fervour among people, I decided there and then that I will also win a medal for my country,” Petkar narrates to Forbes India in an interview. 

A turning event in his life came when he defeated the village head’s son in wrestling. Because of the wrath of the villagers, he had to flee to Pune. There, he joined the Boys Battalion of the Indian Army, where his sports journey truly began.

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Tragic incident during the Indo-Pak War of 1965

Murlikant Petkar was appointed as an Indian Army jawan in the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME). Petkar also got an opportunity to represent the Indian Army in the sport of Boxing at the International Services Sports Meet in Tokya in 1964. 

In 1965, during the Indo-Pak War, Murlikant Petkar was stationed in the Sialkot sector. Unfortunately, he suffered severe injuries during an aerial attack and was subsequently run over by an army vehicle. This incident led to memory loss, and a bullet was lodged in his spine forever. Despite these challenges, his spirit remained unbroken. He regained memory and mobility after two years.

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Participation of Murlikant Petkar in Paralympics 

Murlikant Petkar’s journey to the Paralympics began when in 1968, he participated in table tennis at the Summer Paralympics. 

• But he had to leave his mastered skill and switch to swimming. He also participated in the 1970 Commonwealth Games. 
• He won a Gold medal in 50-metre freestyle swimming, a Silver in javelin throw, and a Bronze in shot put at the 3rd Commonwealth Paraplegic Games at Edinburgh, Scotland.
• He again participated in the historic 1972 Paralympic Games in Heidelberg, Germany. 
• Petkar won four gold medals in the swimming category. 
• He made history when he won the gold medal in the 50-meter freestyle event, breaking the record in 37.33 seconds. 
• He also became the first Indian Paralympic Gold Medalist. 

Do You Know: Before Murlikant Petkar became a Paralympic champion, he wore boxing gloves for the Indian Army. Life, however, had other plans. A war injury changed his path, but not his passion. Confined to a wheelchair but not by his will, Petkar turned to swimming, and in 1972, he rewrote history as India’s first-ever Paralympic gold medallist.

Post-Paralympic Life of Murlikant Petkar

After his historic win, Murlikant Petkar continued to serve the nation in various capacities. He started working at TELCO  (Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company) in Pune and worked as a Senior Assistant in the Public Relations Department. 

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Rewards and Honours

Here is a list of awards that Murlikant Petkar has earned because of his contributions to the nation – 

Date	Award/Event
1971	Honoured by the President of the All India Mayors Council, Mr Thorat, for being the National Champion for 7 Years straight (1968-76) in Pune
1969-1973	General Championship Cup for five consecutive years
1975	Shiv Chhatrapati Award by the Government of Maharashtra (First award given to a disabled athlete in India)
26 January 1976	Honoured by the President of All India Mayors Council, Mr Thorat, for being the National Champion for 7 Years straight (1968-76) in Pune
5 April 1979	Krida Pratishthan Award by Shri Vijay Merchant
1981	Outstanding Sportsman Award by then Mayor of Pune
2018	Honoured by the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME)
21 March 2018	Padma Shri Award by the Government of India

In 2024, he was given the honour by the Bollywood industry by making a film based on his real-life name Chandu Champion. The character of Murlikant Patekar was portrayed by Kartik Aryan. 

The story of Murlikant Rajaram Petkar is one of true grit and passion. From a small village in Maharashtra to winning India’s first Paralympic gold, he showed that no setback is big enough to stop a determined heart. His journey continues to inspire young athletes across the country to chase their dreams, no matter the challenges.

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