Indian para high jumper Sharad Kumar added another feather to his cap by clinching a silver medal in the T63 category at the Paris Paralympic Games. Kumar cleared a height of 1.88m, showcasing his incredible athleticism and determination. His fellow Indian athlete, Mariyappan Thangavelu, also brought home a bronze medal with a jump of 1.85m.
The T63 classification is for athletes with a single limb deficiency, either through the knee or above the knee. Kumar’s achievement is particularly noteworthy considering the difficult circumstances he has faced. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has prevented him from meeting his Ukrainian coach, Nikitin Yevhen, for over two years. Despite this obstacle, Yevhen, based in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, has remained a constant source of support and guidance for Kumar.
Kumar trained under Yevhen in Kharkiv from 2017 until shortly before his bronze medal-winning performance at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021. Even though they have been separated, Yevhen’s encouragement and expertise have continued to shape Kumar’s journey. The silver medal in Paris marks Kumar’s second Paralympic medal, a testament to his unwavering commitment and resilience in the face of adversity.
“I spoke to him last night, he is very happy (after learning Kumar’s feat). He sent me an audio, he was almost crying,” Kumar said, referring to his coach, as quoted by PTI. Despite the distance and the challenges of the war, Kumar has maintained a close connection with his coach, relying on online communication and Yevhen’s unwavering support.
“The war has impacted me immensely, because my coach has not been able to be with me ever since the war started (in February 2022). Even when I was in the Philippines, I was always having online chat with him,” Kumar shared. “His blessings and his guidance is always with me. All the time I am in touch with him, every day.”
Kumar’s dedication to his sport is truly inspiring. He has overcome numerous obstacles, including a childhood polio diagnosis that left him with paralysis in his left leg. He is a two-time Asian Para Games high jump champion (2014 and 2018), a world silver medalist (2019), and holds a master’s degree in international relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi.
In Tokyo, Kumar nearly withdrew from the T42 high jump final due to a knee injury. However, he found strength in his family and his faith, overcoming his anxiety and securing a bronze medal. His perseverance and resilience are evident in his dedication to his sport and his ability to push through challenges.
In Paris, Kumar faced a tough battle against eventual gold medalist Freach Ezra of the USA, who cleared 1.94m. Reflecting on his journey, Kumar acknowledged the intense competitive nature of the sport, comparing it to a “war.”
“Sport is an art till the time you are comfortable with your podium finish. It gets finer and finer the more you train, the more you play,” Kumar explained. “After a stage, it (sport) becomes a war when there is the competitive thing. Yesterday was a good art as well as war.”
He also recognized the rising level of competition in para athletics, both in India and globally. “It’s getting better and better but the same thing is happening in the whole world,” Kumar said. “High jump and javelin are getting better in India, generally and in Paralympics, it’s amazing and lovely, as I being the first high jumper who has the potential of a podium.”
The presence of a large crowd in Paris, a stark contrast to the close-door competitions in Tokyo due to COVID-19, provided a much-needed boost for the athletes. “They (crowd) motivates you and they make you feel like a star for a while. That is the best thing and I think most of us are craving for that,” Kumar shared. “We worked hard and that is the little moment we get (recognition) for the hard work we had done and that is very addictive.
