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In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, para-athlete Yogesh Kathuniya spoke on his early days in discus throw, Paris Paralympics goals, the support of his family and more. read more
 "'Want to give my 100 per cent,' Indian para-discus thrower aims to convert silver into gold at Paris Paralympics")
Indian para-athlete Yogesh Kathuniya poses with the silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympics. Image credit: Badminton Photo
Yogesh Kathuniya, who has established himself as a discus thrower over the last few years, sports is a way of life. Yogesh, who will take part in the men’s F56 discus throw competition at the upcoming 2024 Paris Paralympics, was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder, at the age of nine in 2006.
That meant Yogesh was bound to a wheelchair for two years. His mother Meena came to the rescue. She learnt physiotherapy, and three years later, at the age of 12, Yogesh began walking again.
Yogesh’s father, Gyanchand Kathuniya, is a retired army officer, having served at the Chandimandir Cantonment in Panchkula district, Haryana.
Fast forward to 2017, at the age of 20, Yogesh was pursuing B.Com at the Kirori Mal College in Delhi. It was around this time when Sachin Yadav, general secretary of the students’ union, introduced him to para-athletics.
Sachin showed him a few videos of para-athletes, and Yogesh was inspired. It did not take long for the now 27 year-old to get accustomed to discus throw. In 2018, he created a new world record in F36 category, with a throw of 45.18m at the World Para Athletics European Championships in Berlin.
In 2021, Yogesh clinched silver medal at Tokyo Paralympics in the men’s F56 discus throw event. Three years on, he aims to change the colour of that medal while also looking to set a new benchmark in discus throw with a target of 50m.
In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Yogesh spoke on his early days of discus throw, Paris Paralympics aspirations, the support of his family and more.
Excerpts:
What inspired you to take up discus throw?
When I was studying B.Com in Kirori Mal College in Delhi in 2017, one of my seniors, Sachin Yadav, told me that there was an opportunity to try out para-sports. He suggested me to try. So, when I went to the stadium, the first sport I noticed there was discus throw and I was excited by the prospect of trying it out.
How have your parents supported you in realising your dreams?
Both my mother and father have supported me very well from the start. They were happy about the fact that I was doing something different. I then went to Germany in 2018 and proved to myself that, ‘yes, this is working out for me well’. Whenever my family supports me, I always lose the fear of losing from my mind. Instead, I am motivated to put my 100 per cent out there.
What was winning a medal at Tokyo Paralympics like?
Winning silver at the Tokyo Paralympics was an overwhelming experience. The feeling of winning the silver in Tokyo took some time to sink in. I was happy with a silver medal, given that it’s my first Paralympics. Back home, my mother, father and the rest of the family were very happy. I even won the Arjuna award in the aftermath of that silver medal. That was also an excellent achievement for me. All these achievements keep me motivated.
Talk about the setbacks you face during injuries?
Suffering an injury is the most difficult setback that I faced. I have been mentally hurt during injuries. Even when I perform well despite injuries, I still feel like something is missing. I’ve been mentally down on a few occasions while dealing with injuries. I hardly felt any motivation. I then started attending sports psychology classes and I have benefitted quite a lot from those. I started focussing on the process, and not the end result.
Which area are you specifically working on ahead of Paris Paralympics?
I have focussed a little bit on strength this time, because I was feeling a little weak on that part. The throwers need that kind of an “explosive energy”, and the more strength you have, the better throws you can unleash.
You won silver at the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan. Does that add as a motivating factor going into Paris?
Definitely. Because I have won three World Championships medals, that includes two silver medals and one bronze medal. This time, I want to give my 100 per cent and change the colour of the medal into gold. I am excited and motivated to play the Paralympics in Paris.
You have previously spoken on possibly breaching the 50m mark, which would be a new world record. Do you see that happening in Paris?
I am focussed on breaching the 50m mark. In 2022, I broke the world record by setting a new record of 48.34m. At that time, I was injury free. But, ever since, I have had two-three injury setbacks back-to-back. I completed rehabilitation only in March this year, and it was only after that I began my preparations for the Paris Paralympics. I am confident of breaking that world record.
An avid sports follower, I have been working with Firstpost for the last four years. If not for sports, movies and music are my other interests. see more
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