The legendary Devendra Jhajharia on Monday turned the primary para athlete to obtain the Padma Bhushan, the nation’s third highest civilian award.
The 40-year-old Jhajharia obtained the distinguished award from President Ram Nath Kovind on the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Jhajharia is a multiple-time Paralympics medal winner, having gained his maiden gold throughout the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, his second gold medal throughout the Rio Games in 2016, and a silver medal throughout the 2020 Tokyo version final 12 months.
The javelin thrower competes within the F46 occasions within the Paralympics and was among the many 4 Paralympic medalists to be conferred with the Padma awards this 12 months.
President Kovind presents Padma Bhushan to Shri Devendra Jhajharia for Sports. He is the primary Indian Para-Javelin thrower and the primary Indian para-athlete to win two gold medals at Paralympics. pic.twitter.com/hIiQNcAf1V
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 21, 2022
Tokyo Paralympics double medallist shooter Avani Lekhara obtained the Padma Shri for her wonderful displaying final 12 months.
Lekhara gained a gold medal within the 10m air rifle standing occasion and a bronze within the 50m rifle 3 positions occasion.
Honored and grateful to be awarded the Padma Shri. This award is a testomony to not solely my efforts, however the sacrifices of my household and the assist of everybody concerned in my profession serving to me obtain all I’ve. I sit up for representing the nation with the identical ardour! https://t.co/Y7FgPKBLlU
— Avani Lekhara Avani Lekhara (@AvaniLekhara) March 21, 2022
Alongside Jhajharia and Lekhara, gold medal-winning javelin thrower Sumit Anil, gold medallist in badminton Pramod Bhagat had been the opposite Paralympic stars to be conferred with the honour.
That he has achieved a primary was not misplaced on Jhajharia.
“This is the primary time a para athlete has acquired the Padma Bhushan, and I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this. Now I’ll have extra accountability in the direction of the nation, to win extra medals for India,” Jhajharia mentioned.
“To the youth, I’ll say work exhausting. One minute of labor is not going to get you something. I’ve labored exhausting for the previous 20 years, 2002 was the primary time I gained a gold medal,” he added.
Lekhara tweeted, “Honored and grateful to be awarded the Padma Shri. This award is a testomony to not solely my efforts, however the sacrifices of my household and the assist of everybody concerned in my profession serving to me obtain all I’ve.
“I look forward to representing the country with the same passion!” PTI AH AH
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
