How Can We Win More Medals In Sports?

1. How Can We Win More Medals In Sports? Arvind Malik, a My journey started 2012. My brother used to play badminton. I had the habit accompanying father to the stadium when he used to drop him off stadium. There was one Paralympic who asked me to try for para-sports. Honestly, before that, I had no idea if such a form of exists or suggested should try for shot put or discus throw. I fall in category which is due to a head injury. But I had an athletic body, so he guided me to practice and try for para-sports. para-athlete, has won several medals in his career. He plays shot put in the F35 events. He has set a world record at Athletics Oceania Championship 2016– Men’s discus throw with a Gold Medal. Chasing Dreams: Yourself The in Finding younger of the IPC Asia- my I am thankful to God, my family has been very supportive and pushed me to give it a try. “Jis din maine target liya paralympic mai khelna hai, laana hai, who same target mere parents ne bhi le liya tha.” Thankfully due to the family support, didn’t go through the societal prejudice. My family was there to back me. My brother, friends and everybody around me were accommodating at the senior athlete medal In telephonic chat with Sociotab, he shared his shortcomings in his performance the Tokyo Paralympic and the state of sports in the country. He also talked about the importance of sports at the school level. Read here: a candid the not. that game He I at I the F-35 always very and

2. cooperative.But sometimes I used to feel that whether I will ever be able to achieve what I dreamt for myself “Mere mann mai hota tha.” All self-doubt, jealousy helplessness till the time, I had no goal to achieve. “Jab maine Paralympic medal laane ko apna lakshya bana tab ki baat mann mein yeh baat nahi aayi ki mai kya karunga, peeche reh jaunga.” But now, I have an aim to achieve and a dream to chase and I am actively chasing it. No Turning Back In 2014 was my first Asian game, in the 2016 IPC Asia-Oceania Championship bagged my first gold medal, and there was no turning back. I qualified for the 2016 Rio Paralympics, but I was not able to go due to some ranking. So, Paralympics was my first Paralympics and the journey beautiful. “Hamare Talent ki kami nahi hai”- Sports Culture in India Honestly, there is no lack of talent in our country. desh mein Talent ki kami nahi hai.” So who has here, like Chopra who has won India’s first athletics medal in India? “Aise gaon main bahut hote hai, jinko facility nahi mil paati.” stadium in the district is not enough. We need at stadium two-three village in a district. youngsters children can come out and nurture talent. They can come to the highest level given the opportunities facilities. apna talent bhi nahi dekh paate hai basic level.” If they get the opportunity javelin throw at their Desh mai Tokyo or not. was “Hamare the the the and reached Neeraj existed I was very energetic and enthusiastic about the Although I didn’t win any medals, it was a big learning for me. performance was not up to my expectation. In hindsight, I think I lacked practice. But I will practice and will give better performance. Now I am looking forward to the Championship Asian Games. I am solely focused them now. My aim is to work on where I think I lack practice. I will try my best. mai mai games. liya, mere One lesson The least for one ya mai a So that and more their World and right and log Athletics “Woh on I to play

3. village, pursue to come to cities for training. But if they don’t know javelin throw or have never seen anybody play or themselves, then how will they know about their talent. This problem is at the basic level, once you reach a certain level, there are facilities, good equipment, coaches. There is a lot of scope improvement at the basic level. Sports Mindset When we go to school to learn basics like the ABCD, sports should incorporated into the curriculum. should be for children to seek their talent. It will help them to develop an interest in sports. It is incorporate sports at they might the school level. Even if they are not going to a professional level it is very important for their personality development. Overcoming Prejudices I would slowly people showing interest Paralympics as well. This time showed support and interest in the game and we were able to secure a lot of medals. People welcomed para-athletes with a lot of enthusiasm. But yes, I would say there still exist a difference between the two. I can’t put it in words. It exists mindset and it can only change change our mentality and look sportsperson sportsperson. players play for the country medals country, deserve equal respect and appreciation. My Role Model so we all further about overall played I would, for now, look up to Neeraj Chopra for his dedication to sports. I have met him once. He is a very inspiring athlete, how he sets his pace, mentality of keeping himself calm then competing. I like to know about his goals, the speaks. about motivating. say that are level of in people immense good there is his and for the way he and Everything him is from the be in our Sports included if we at the as a All best to and for win the