Against All Odds: The hidden force behind India’s Paralympic gold rush

Explore the inspiring stories of Paralympians whose lives have been changed by ALC.

Murlikant Petkar: India’s first Paralympic gold medal in 50-metre freestyle swimming

Life took an unexpected turn for Murlikant Petkar during the 1965 Indo-Pak war, where nine bullet wounds left him paralysed from the waist down. However, he refused to let his disability define him. During his rehabilitation at the ALC campus, Petkar discovered swimming as an alternate sport career. His determination culminated in clinching India’s first Paralympic gold medal in the 50-metre freestyle event at the 1972 Heidelberg Games in Germany. He happens to be the real inspiration behind the movie ‘Chandu Champion’ starring Karthik Aryan.

Murlikant Petkar is India’s first Paralympic gold medal winner in 50-metre freestyle swimming

“ALC did not just give me prosthetics; they restored my warrior spirit and rebuilt my broken dreams. The dedicated staff and world-class facilities helped me find my strength again. Today’s Para-athletes might see me as an inspiration, but I see ALC as the true architect of India’s Paralympic journey,” said Petkar.

Hokato Hotozhe Seema: bronze medal in shotput at 2024 Paralympics

Surviving a land mine blast in an anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir in 2002 plunged Hokato into a phase where he questioned his identity as a soldier. After this accident, he continued working in an administrative position within the Army. However, a visit to the ALC for a prosthetic limb fitting in 2016 opened new opportunities for him.

Hokato Hotozhe Seema won bronze medal in shotput at 2024 Paralympics  

“Officers at ALC inspired me to play ‘shotput’. Their expertise in sports-specific prosthetics and unwavering support transformed my perceived weakness into my greatest strength. I used to need a new limb every 10 days during the training sessions, which would cost lakhs, but ALC never complained and always offered me a new one. The bronze medal won at the 2024 Paralympics Games isn’t just mine: it belongs to every person at ALC, Army Paralympic Node, the Indian Army and the support staff who believed in me,” shared Sema.

Sumit Antil: gold medals in javelin in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympics

In 2015, a devastating tractor accident crushed Sumit’s wrestling dreams, resulting in the amputation of his left leg. Yet, this young athlete’s spirit remained unbroken. At ALC, Sumit discovered para-javelin as an alternative sport. His journey from countless hours of training with the prosthetic leg to becoming a two-time Paralympic champion speaks volumes about his resilience, clinching gold medals in both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games with record-breaking throws in the men’s javelin throw F64 category.

Sumit Antil won gold medals in javelin in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympics

“After such a tragic incident, one needs to get mental stability. The facility at ALC provided me with that mental strength. When I first walked into ALC in 2015, I never imagined I would walk out as a future Paralympic champion. The technicians at ALC didn’t just design a prosthetic leg but engineered my comeback story. The centre’s cutting-edge prosthetics and understanding of an athlete’s needs turned my disability into my strength,” said Sumit.

Nitesh Kumar: gold in men’s singles in badminton at Paris Paralympics 2024

Nitesh Kumar met with a tragic train accident in 2009 that left him bedridden, but it could not dampen his sporting spirit. During his stay at IIT-Mandi, he discovered para-badminton, finding a new purpose in life. His journey from rehabilitation to winning gold in the men’s singles SL3 category at the 2024 Paris Paralympics showcases extraordinary determination and skill.

Nitesh Kumar won gold medal in men’s singles in badminton at Paris Paralympics 2024

“I was inspired by observing ‘Anandan Gunasekaran,’ a champion blade runner. I have walked for hours in the rehabilitation centre during my recovery phase. I was fitted with a high-end ‘Flex-run Blade’ and a ‘Socket’ for free which cost lakhs elsewhere. This has helped me move with agility on the badminton court. Every smash, every dive, and every victory on the court carries the spirit of those who rebuilt me, one step at a time and is a testament to ALC’s commitment to transforming lives through sports,” said Nitesh.

Where technology meets compassion

What sets ALC apart is its cutting-edge prosthetics and human-centric approach. While using advanced technologies like computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), they don’t just replace limbs but restore the dignity and potential of an individual.

“ALC happens to be the world’s only centre that manufactures both endo-skeletal and conventional limbs simultaneously. Over 71,000 persons with disabilities are registered at ALC. And around 800 new beneficiaries are added yearly,” said Brigadier C N Satish, Commandant of ALC Pune.

“In India, the most significant challenge faced by the para-athletes is the lack of sports prosthetic facilities because very few manufacture them, they are costly, and many depend on its import. But we, as a defence organisation, can provide high-end prosthetics for sports persons. We also have a special team of para-athletes who offer highly skilled expertise in designing and manufacturing prostheses in-house. After this, we train them to use prostheses at our rehabilitation centre. And our collaborative team at the Indian Army’s Paralympic node trains them in their respective sports,” he added.

“We have started a “direct socket system,” for transfemoral prosthesis users, a novel interface where the socket is shaped and laminated on the residual limb, and takes around three hours to make, which took over a week earlier. We recently manufactured a “Phoenix foot” that provides natural ankle movement on uneven terrain and comforts the hip and knee during long physical work. We are also planning to start implementing 3D printing technology-based manufacturing,” said Brigadier Satish, talking of innovations inspired by the institute’s motto of “No Wheelchair, No Crutches”

“India achieved its most successful performance in Paralympic history at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, securing 29 medals – seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze. I believe India will secure over 50 medals in the next Paralympic Games,” said Murlikant Petkar.

– Shubham is an intern with The Indian Express, Pune