The one throw wonder: Para-champion Dharambir’s medal-winning mantra

When Dharambir won gold in the men’s club throw F51 event at the Paris Paralympics, his story of overcoming adversity made headlines.

That said, not very many realized that the medal quite literally slipped through his fingers on the day of the finals. But one throw was all it took for the man from Sonipat to bag gold.

With a lifechanging injury sapping the strength from his hands, Dharambir’s discovery of para sports has offered him a lifeline.

The Para Champions programme is a pioneer in structuring support to para athletes in India. Gameskraft Foundation has been an associate partner of the programme since 2022.

Gameskraft recently organized an event to celebrate these very para-champions.

Paralympic medalists Dharambir, Sharad, Rakesh Kumar and Paralympians Rakshitha Raju and Mh Yasser were a part of this celebration.

Additionally, with such organisations ensuring that he is in good physical and mental shape, and is able to compete internationally, Dharambir has a newfound purpose in life.

Excerpts from an interview:

In Paris, your first four throws were poor. How did you regain composure to produce a 34.92m throw in your 5th attempt to win the Gold?

The thing is that with the injury that I have I am unable to move my fingers or hold anything. Which is why we use a special kind of gum for our event. The application of this gum varies with the change in weather; sometimes I need to apply more gum and sometimes less. This judgement becomes tough for me most of the time which results in so many faulty throws. But in my training, the distance that I get from my throws are really good which gives me that confidence that even if I get one correct throw, I will get a medal.

Third time's a charm! What changed at the Paris Paralympics after Rio and Tokyo?

I don't know about the charm but I got the opportunity to go to the 2016 Paralympics in the second year of my sporting career. So, honestly, my preparations were not that special for the Rio Paralympics but I was fully prepared for Tokyo but could not return with a medal there. There was not much difference between Tokyo and Paris in terms of preparations and this time too I was prepared and confident about my preparations. I had a good day and that's why I got a medal in Paris. Also, a little bit of my throwing technique has changed and I’ve been training on that more. The main difference between Paris and Rio and Tokyo was that I was focused more on getting at least one of my throws right. Because I knew that just that one throw would be enough to get me a medal.

In addition to training, what are the other forms of support that you receive from the program?

Beyond training, the program offers comprehensive support that helps me focus entirely on my sport without worrying about day-to-day necessities. This includes daily essentials, travel, accommodation, nutrition and mentorship. The assistance through the Para Champions Programme takes care of all these needs. Additionally, the GoSports Foundation team works closely with me to ensure that I am in the best physical and mental shape, which has been key to my success in national and international competitions.

In addition, when I went to the Gameskraft office after the Paris Paralympics, it felt really nice to interact with so many people. They were really supportive and they genuinely wanted to know more about parasports as well as the journeys of us para-athletes. I think such events are really important for us as it gives us a lot of recognition, acknowledgement and motivation. Such an event also showcases para-sport in a positive light which is very important for the growth of para-sports in our country.

You had mentioned that you will win a medal for your son before leaving for the games. What keeps you motivated to continue competing?

For me the training has always been good, I have been getting good results. I know that if I get a single throw correct I will get a medal, no matter which colour. The thing is that this sometimes does not happen, things do not go how I planned it to go. Nobody knows what their future or what their game will be like. But one thing I know for sure is that, even if I get one throw correct, I will get a medal and this keeps me motivated all the time.

How has your performance and overall well-being changed in keeping with the said program?

I have been involved with the Foundation since 2016, and till date all of my needs have been fulfilled; not just fulfilled but have fulfilled at the correct time. After the GoSports Foundation started to take care of all my specific needs, it was easier for me to focus on my performance and I improved a lot. With their presence I don’t have any mental pressure for anything else, all I need to do is focus on my game.

How does the program help you train?

The Para Champions Programme, supported by corporate partners like IndusInd Bank, Gameskraft Foundation and AT&T, and implemented by GoSports Foundation, provides me with vital support for my training. This includes access to specialised training equipment, physiotherapy sessions, and rehabilitation, which are crucial for my performance in the Club Throw event. The support ensures that my training experience is seamless and tailored to my specific needs, allowing me to focus on pushing my boundaries and achieving my goals. The programme has been instrumental in enabling me to train effectively and perform well at both national and international competitions.