Kapil said- I have struggled a lot for this, now I will not give up the medal even for a day.
The medals of the Olympic Games held in Paris have started discolouring within five months. More than 100 players from across the world, including Indian shooter Manu Bhakar, have complained about the discolouration of their medals. The International Olympic Committee is ready to exchange medals for the players, but
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Kapil had won the bronze medal while participating in Judo Paralympics. Kapil says, 'With time the color of a person also fades, this is just a medal. The color of my medal has also discolored. Got it shined. Will not send him to France like other players. I have struggled a lot in life, now I will not give up the medal even for a day.
Recently President Draupadi Murmu honored Kapil with the Arjuna Award for his outstanding performance. He has won 14 international medals. However, these achievements were extremely difficult for him.
That bronze medal of Paralympics, whose color had become discolored.
Kapil's story, in his own words… I am a resident of Sehore, Madhya Pradesh. I am 24 years old. For 9 years my life was like that of a normal child. In 2009, he went to the farm to start the water pump. There was water spread on the ground there. I kept running and running in my joy. As soon as the switch was pressed to start the pump, there was a loud blast. My fingers stuck to the switch. Toes got burnt. There were deep wounds in the head. I became unconscious in agony.
6 months in coma, had to stay in hospital for 2 years When I opened my eyes in the hospital, my mother said – Doctors are saying that your entire blood has turned black. The chances of survival are negligible. The blood of the whole body will change every month. I remained in a coma for 6 months. My mother used to come to Bhopal from Sehore every day by bus. Father used to bring food in the morning, mother used to stay with him in the evening. Was hospitalized for 2 years.
It was revealed in the army recruitment rally that he has a problem with his eyes. I used to sit on the front bench in the class because the writing on the board was not clearly visible from behind. Once an army recruitment rally was held in Sehore. Had topped its race. He had passed the physical but was expelled in the medical checkup citing eye problem.
Then I got my eyes checked and the doctor told me that there was a problem with the nerve in my eye. Gradually the eyesight will decrease. I have consulted doctors in Japan, London and Germany in the last 3 years, but no solution has been found. Seven years ago there was 80 percent visibility, today 80 percent of the eyes have been damaged. Now I bump into someone while walking anywhere.
Papa used to do wrestling, I decided to play judo When I recovered and came home, the doctors said – there is a lot of deficiency of protein and calcium in it. I did not have enough strength in my body to even lift the weight of my school bag. I used to feel dizzy while walking. Sometimes such a situation would arise that my brother would pick me up and bring me home.
Then the doctor made a diet plan. Asked to do running and exercise for physical strength. I started enjoying it. Papa used to do wrestling sometimes. Before the accident, I also used to wrestle, so I decided to play judo.
There was no money to eat bananas, people used to say – eat cashew nuts, almonds. When I used to go from Sehore to Bhopal for practice, I used to take lift to save bus fare. For 7-8 years, I traveled 50 km daily to Bhopal and 50 km back by taking lift. Because the fare on both sides was Rs 100 whereas the household income itself was Rs 300-400. I myself was nervous to ask for Rs 100. People used to taunt me, what are you doing? You work hard but also eat.
We had a one-acre farm adjacent to the highway in the village. This farm was a major source of livelihood for the entire family. In 2012, my sister's marriage was fixed. Before that he had swine flu. He had a very long treatment. In this, all the money saved for the wedding was gone. To get married, the farm had to be mortgaged for just Rs 5 lakh. If we could not return the money within the stipulated time, that land was lost from our hands.
Sometimes I pleaded and sometimes I made videos out of desperation, then I got help. Won gold medal in Senior National Judo in 2018. There was no Rs 1.20 lakh to go to London for the 2019 Commonwealth Games. Then, after pleading with the governments, I was able to go to London. Also won gold.
I have played tournaments by asking for donations and won medals for the country. After Covid, in 2021 I had to go to London for an international tournament. There was not Rs 2.5 lakh for that. Then I became so frustrated that I had to make a video and upload it on social media.
In this I had said that I am a gold medalist in the Commonwealth Games, but do not have Rs 2.5 lakh to go to London. After that people commented and asked me for the QR code. Sehore Collector, SP, people of the society came forward. I had received a donation of Rs 5 lakh in half an hour.
After that I did not look back. Won gold in Birmingham games. Madhya Pradesh government announced to give Rs 50 lakh after gold in Asian Games and Rs 1 crore after medal in Paralympics.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met Kapil after winning bronze in Paralympics.
Paralympic Medal and Arjun Award is like meeting God I come from a middle class family. Papa was a taxi driver, before that he worked as a carpenter. At that time, one would get Rs 2 for carrying a sack in a truck. In this way we could earn only a few rupees in a whole day.
My mother used to work as a laborer in other people's houses. After all this our house continued to function. Now when I see myself as the world number one judo player, already winning a medal in the Olympics, receiving the Arjuna Award, it feels as if I have met God.
Now people have started recognizing that big brands are my sponsors. Got a second life after the Olympic medal. People have started recognizing. If any player needs any help, the work gets done on one of my phones. After receiving the Arjun Award, the flight from Delhi to Bhopal was delayed. Then many leaders of Madhya Pradesh were met there. Everyone recognized me. Hugs, congratulations.
Modi ji called after winning the medal. I am a member of Reliance Foundation. Big brands are my sponsors. I have done many adds. This recognition has been given to me by my sports, my hard work and my parents.
President Draupadi Murmu recently honored Kapil Parmar with the Arjuna Award.
Will win 2028 Paralympic gold for parents Right now my target is to win the 2028 Paralympic gold medal. My parents have struggled a lot for me, to honor them would be worth as much as a Paralympic gold. I support para players as much as I can. I try to help them in the game in whatever way I can.
The secret of my courage and courage are my parents. When his father used to come home tired in the evening after loading 200 sacks in the truck every day, his condition was very bad, he had a lot of pain in his knees. I used to massage his hands and feet. His knees are completely ruined.
During my treatment, my mother sacrificed her life for me. She dragged me from Yamraj's house. He never gave up so how can I give up? Both of them are my biggest inspiration. Also, Kishan Modi of Paneer Factory of Sehore helped me a lot. Whenever there was shortage of money, he provided support. He has saved the talent of many youth like me from dying.
Kapil won Paralympic bronze after a lot of struggles and enjoyed the medal bite.
Many talented players are working as guards and selling tea. I have proved myself at every step but there are many players like me, who are in a serious situation right now. His talent is slowly dying. Many Vikram awardees and international players are selling tea. Doing guard duty outside the washroom.
I myself have won fights in 6-6 seconds. This has been a world record. Remained world number one for a year. The country has been awarded 14 medals including 8 gold and 2 silver. Of these, I had borrowed money from people to go to 10 tournaments, that is, after winning 10 medals, the country realized my capability. It feels sad to see all this.
Kapil also gives tips about games to other players.
I felt bad when I saw the color of the medal fading. I know that a person's color fades with time, yet this is a Paralympic bronze medal. More than 100 players from the world have complained to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) about the discoloration of their medals.
IOC has also said that they will change the medals, but I did not complain. Got it repaired for Rs 25. Who would send the medal to France and wait for it to recover? I can't keep the medal I got after so much struggle away from me even for a day.
A Baba sits outside in a shed outside the Moti Masjid of Bhopal. When he showed him the medal he said – Brother, this is our work day and night. Bring anything, we will add color. It will cost Rs 25 to polish it. They didn't even know what this thing was? With so much hard work one has won it. His cleaning cost was only Rs 25 but I paid him Rs 50 after the work was done.
Medals of Paris Olympics showed results in 5 months
Graphics Source: NavJivanIndia | VaskarAssets
