Tokyo Paralympics silver medalist Nishad Kumar reveals the secret to success: hard work, meditation and 'prayer'

Tokyo Paralympics silver medalist Nishad Kumar reveals the secret to success: hard work, meditation and 'prayer'

"Prayer works a lot for a player ... for a player there is luck, there is a day, wishes and best wishes, this is the most," said Nishad Kumar, a happy Tokyo man, who won a silver medal. In the Men's High Jump (T46 / 47) Event.

The 2.06m jump that won him his first Paralympic medal was his personal best and the Asian record in the event. He was one of the top jumpers in the bronze in the T47 category at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships and the gold medalist in the Faza World Para Athletics Grand Prix held in Dubai in February.

Nishad made a good start and was among the leaders as he started his event with a mark of 1.89m but he knew that his real competitions - Roderick Townsend and Dallas Wise - would start with a mark of only 2.02m.

"I knew the two American high jumpers would only start with a 2.02-meter mark, because we had to announce in advance which marks we were targeting. I was not sure if I would win a medal but I was confident that I would do well, ”Nishad said.

Nishad confirmed the medal while Chinese high jumper Hongji Chen failed to clear the 2.02m mark. Nishad's fight was with the Americans to determine the color of the medal.

Roderick Townsend, who eventually set a world record (2.15m) and won gold, was surpassing his goals. Dallas and Nishad crossed the 2.06m mark in their second attempt but failed in the 2.09m and each won a silver medal.

“I was very much proud when I grabbed the tri-color and I ran in joy. This was my first Olympics so it was a very proud moment for me. It was also a very special moment for me when I saw our flag during the medal ceremony. Also, having two silver ones, the Indian flag was at the same height as the USA, ”he added.

And Una's high jumper didn't let his medal go anywhere, "I've kept the medal with me since morning and I'll take it wherever I go. The medal weighs about 500 grams and I don’t let it go. ”

After winning the medal, Nishad spoke to his family and they had already planned something special, the 21-year-old also revealed his tight schedule after returning to India.

“Yes, I talked to my parents and sister and they were really happy. I will reach Delhi tomorrow (August 31); I will stay there for two days and then go home. I will come to Delhi again to meet Prime Minister Modi. ”

However Nishad expressed a regret that may stay with him for a while.

“The gold medal I won at the 2021 World Grand Prix definitely increase my confidence. I jumped to my personal best, 2.06m. Even at the Paralympics is a sign that I jumped here. I wanted to do better here but somehow it didn’t succeed. My body only allowed me to get a medal. ”

“I tried at the 1.98m mark twice because I couldn’t cross it on my first attempt. Then my coach pointed out a mistake and asked me to correct it. I did that and cleared 2.02m on the first attempt but repeated the error again during 2.06m, my coach pointed out the error and I cleared it on my second attempt.

I don't know why I couldn't clear 2.09 meters, I should have but I couldn't. Probably because the humidity is too high here and I was getting tired easily. ”

The first taste of the Olympics

A resident of Badaun village in Una district of Himachal Pradesh, his journey to the highest stage was not easy. Nishad, who lost his right hand in a tragic accident when he was six years old, started participating in the Para Games in 2017.

This was not Nishad's first international event, however, it was his first Paralympics, and what would be special for any athlete, so it was for him.

“The day I landed here in Tokyo, and then when I saw the whole village from the balcony of my room, I was really excited and I immediately wanted to compete; As we say in Hindi, 'Khoon bolta hai rago mein.'

“When I entered the stadium and I saw its size, I was really excited, I was going to perform in such a big stadium for the first time. I knew I had to do well because the whole country and the whole world was looking at me and I was happy to win the medal, ”said Garva Nishad.

Nishad thanked his countrymen for all the love and support he gave them and signed, "I thank the whole country for their support and love that I was able to perform well because of them. My next events will be the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games and I will be aiming to reach the goal I set for myself. ”

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