Thousands of kilometers away from the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, at Annai Vailankanni College in Tambaram, Tamil Nadu, the live telecast of the T64 category 200m final during the Khelo India Para Games was a momentous event. Among the viewers was Rajesh K, a blade runner representing the college, showcasing immense courage on the track.
Rajesh’s remarkable performance illuminated the JLN Stadium as he clinched the gold medal in the 200 meters. Despite a fifth-place finish in the long jump event on Tuesday, Rajesh, whose leg was amputated at just 6 months old, doesn’t succumb to notions of disappointment or frustration.
Nitin Choudhary’s role in Rajesh K’s journey
Under the guidance of Nitin Choudhary at the Sai Center in Gandhinagar (Gujarat), Rajesh’s life narrative is filled with instances that evoke empathy, yet he resolutely refuses to be seen as a subject of sympathy. His ambition is to etch his name in history, much like India’s Paralympic gold medalist Mariyappan Thangavelu or German para long jump athlete Markus Rehm, a world record holder in the T64 long jump category.
Reflecting on his journey, Rajesh asserted, “Disability never obstructed my path. I’ve always perceived myself as a regular individual. I’ve never sought pity.”
When asked about his disability, Rajesh clarified, “I wasn’t born disabled. An infection led to treatment complications where the needle broke in my leg, causing a life-threatening spread of poison. Consequently, my leg was amputated on doctors’ advice to save my life.”
Receiving his first prosthetic leg at 10 months old, Rajesh embarked on his future. However, tragedy struck when his parents separated by mutual consent during his seventh-grade schooling. Left with no support, Rajesh and his twin brother were raised by their grandparents, with their grandfather supporting the family by driving an auto-rickshaw.
How did Rajesh entered the world of Blade Running?
Narrating how he entered running despite having artificial legs, the 24-year-old shared, “I began blade running five or six years ago. Inspired by Mariyappan Thangavelu’s gold medal win at the Rio Paralympics in 2016, I aspired to become an Olympian.”
Encouragement from a friend led him to meet Vijay, Tamil Nadu’s first wheelchair player, who advised him to take up blade running. Rajesh started training in 2018, securing a bronze medal at the 21st Para Nationals in Pune in March 2023. Recognizing his potential, the Tamil Nadu government provided him with a new blade worth Rs 7.50 lakh.
Rajesh’s ambition is set on participate in the Paralympics and Para Asian Games, aiming to bring laurels to the country. He’s gearing up for the upcoming Para Nationals in Goa and subsequently preparing for the Grand Prix in Dubai in February 2024.
