Two golds and a Khel Ratna recommendation. It has been a journey full of hardships and challenges, but javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia is a contented man today. Having been nominated for the prestigious Khel Ratna award—the first paralympic athlete to receive the honour—this is the true moment of recognition for Jhajharia and his team mates. He is the only athlete to win two paralympic gold medals for India.
For 37-year-old Jhajharia, the Union sports ministry acknowledging the efforts of para athletes on par with normal athletes is an achievement as big as any other. Based in Jaipur, Jhajharia's mobile phone returns a busy tone all day. TV news channels and print media throng his residence to record his reaction. In the midst of all the hectic activity, when he does speak, there is not even a minute trace of hurry or over-excitement. Satisfaction overrides the happiness quite clearly.
He was eight when he lost his left hand after being struck by a live electric cable. However, his mother encouraged him to not to consider himself differently abled and exhorted him to go out and play like all other kids around him. Dedicating the award to his mother Jeevani Devi, Jhajharia, speaking to THE WEEK over the phone, said, "My mother had a different thought process all together. She didn't want me to sit inside. It is all because of her—she played a big role in my development as an athlete,” he said.
Jhajharia thanked the government for honouring him with the highest sports award of the country. “It is a very big honour to be nominated for the Khel Ratna. And right after getting the gold medal at the Rio paralympics. However, I want to remind everybody that I had won a medal 12 years ago at the 2004 Athens paralympics too. It has taken its time, but has finally happened.” There is no recrimination, just a reminder of how things were Pre Rio.
He was awarded the Padma Sri in 2012, Arjuna Award in 2004, and was the first para-athlete to receive this honour. “Rio made a big difference. What can be bigger than the prime minister of the country talking about my achievement in his Mann Ki Baat programme? So many people got to know about it through his speech.”
In Rio, he broke his own world record in the men's F46 event. His gold medal winning effort in Athens 2004 was 62.15 metres; he improved this with a 63.97m in Rio last year. The F46 classification is related to impairment for upper limbs affected by limb deficiency, impaired muscle power, or impaired movement as per the paralympics official website. ”When I first won the gold in 2004, I was 23 years old. I broke the world record. In Rio, I was 36 years old. More than the experience, it was age that became a factor. I had to work and train harder for Rio paralympics than Athens. I did intense training, even went abroad for a stint for Rio."
Jhajharia is currently employed by Sports Authority of India. Married to former kabaddi player Manju, he has two children. He is also supported by the Go Sports Foundation.