The Right Aim

Preparing for the Paralympics Qualifiers,archer Amol Boriwale says that being physically challenged has never come in way of his goals.

It was a cruel twist of fate that left paratrooper Amol Boriwale physically challenged in December 2006. He lost a leg owing to a landmine injury and after two years and countless hours of rehabilitation,he was asked to leave the armed forces to lead a sedentary life. Instead of being shattered by his situation,he chose to adopt a positive attitude. I knew right from the time I was in rehabilitation that I would not be a dependent and helpless person. I just knew that I had to begin doing something useful with my life, says Boriwale who will be representing the country at the Paralympics Qualifiers for archery in Italy next month.

While I was at the Military Hospital (MH) in Khadki,I was encouraged by my doctors and also by the people at the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre (PRC) that I would visit,to take up sports. And so I did, he says. I began with my first national in Faridabad,in 2008. I won the gold in the discus throw event, he says.

Instead of continuing as a field athlete,Boriwale decided to take up archery after seeing paraplegic archers perform in Ahmednagar in 2009. Recounting his initial experiences with the bow and arrow,he says,I couldnt even hold the bow back then. But I knew that I was not the only one who was physically challenged. I was amongst equals and if they could do it,then so could I. Struggling to find proper equipment,he obtained permission to train at the ASI (Army Sports Institute),from where he went to Bengaluru for his first world games title. Boriwale,who trains eight hours a day at ASI,was however unable to win any laurels back then. But slowly,over the last two years,he won over 20 gold medals at various national and state competitions. And since September last year,the equipment required by him has been sponsored by Mahindra Engineering.

About the Qualifiers in Italy,he says,These are the qualifying events for the Paralympics that will be held in 2012 in London. I am participating in the 30 mt event. And even though my scores are easily around 335,I am going to work harder to better myself, he adds.

Last week,Boriwale met cricket star Sachin Tendulkar when the latter visited PRC. He even agreed to sponsor him. He just advised me to practice hard and not worry about the funds, Boriwale reveals. For this dedicated archer,just making it to the Paralympics is not good enough. Sometimes in order to achieve something we need to surpass even our own expectations. And right now,I know that this event goes beyond just participation. For me,the Paralympics will be about winning gold, he says.

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