Story
In 1972, Murlikant Petkar won India its first-ever Paralympic gold medal in Heidelberg, Germany, for the 50 m freestyle swimming.
Back then, he had set a world record of blazing across the waters in an impressive 37.33 seconds.His career began in the Boys Battalion of the Indian Army, which saw him rise through the ranks to reach the war grounds of Pakistan in 1965.
A craftsman rank soldier in the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), he was out for tea in the afternoon whena whistle was blown to indicate an aerial attack. He tried to rush back to his room but the firing had already started. When his army camp came under aerial
firing from Pakistani troops, he was left with multiple bullet wounds and was also run over by an army vehicle. The unfortunate incident rendered him a paraplegic for life. He still has a bullet in his spine.
Achievements Galore
Throughout his sporting career, Murlikant Petkar has won several laurels for the country at events like the Stoke Mandeville International Paraplegic Meets held in England, where he consistently outdid his own records. He has won the General Championship Cup for 5 consecutive years (1969-73). He bagged Gold in 50M Freestyle Swimming at the 3rd Commonwealth Paraplegic Games held at Edinburgh, Scotland. At the same event, he also won Silver in Javelin Throw and Bronze in Shot-put.
- Paralympics gold medal in 1972.
- Padma Shri - 2018
- Shiv Chhatrapati Award - 1975
Memories
Defying the Bullet |
The Murlikant Petkar Story
When Pakistani bullets ripped through his body, 21-year-old Murlikant Petkar’s military career ended in blood and dust. But destiny had other plans. What happens when a young soldier faces a choice: surrender to despair or dive into the impossible? The answer lies in the waters of Heidelberg, Germany, 1972, where Petkar touched the wall first, breaking a world record and claiming India’s first Paralympic gold. This is not just a sports story; it’s a testament to what the human spirit can achieve when everything is stripped away except one’s will. A story so extraordinary, it inspired the Bollywood blockbuster “Chandu Champion”! Are you ready to meet India’s first Paralympic champion—a man who turned wounds into wings? Dive in – the race begins on page one.
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