52 Years After Historic First Paralympics Gold, Para-Swimmer Murlikant Petkar Receives Arjuna Award

The Ministry of Sports has carried out more course corrections and awarded the Arjuna Prize (Lifetime) to the Para-Swimmer Murlikant Rajaram Petkar, the first gold medalist from India to the Paralympic Games, giving it the prestigious price 52 years after having made the country history in Heidelberg, Germany. A soldier of the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) of the Indian army, when he underwent a debilitating injury which made him paraplegic, Petkar won the gold medal in the 50m free of the swimming of men of 1972 in the 1972 gold games in Heidelberg, Germany, becoming the first Indian to set up an individual gold medal in Olympics or speaking games.

Petkar, who underwent serious injuries when an army camp in Srinagar was attacked during the 1965 war with Pakistan, established three world records during the victory of the gold medal but was not recognized with the Prix Arjuna for excellence in sport for almost half a century, because Para-Sports did not obtain a lot of recognition in these times.

Now, the 80 -year -old Petkar will receive its price from the President of India Droupadi Murmu during a function specially organized in Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, 2025.

Petkar received the Padma Shri in 2018.

The achievements of the legendary para-swimmer had passed under the radar for decades because para-sports failed to obtain a lot of recognition of the public and the government at that time, and the facilities and support were minimal. Despite these obstacles, Petkar won a gold medal.

A versatile in sport, having tried several events and disciplines before reaching glory with para swimming, Petkar aspired to become the best boxer in the country before being disabled. He had won a boxing medal in boxing at the military games in Japan a few months before getting injured and making disabled.

Petkar represented India in the Paralympic Games of 1968 and 1972. In the 1968 Paralympic Games in Mexico, he participated in para-table tennis and reached the second round. In 1972, in addition to swimming, Petkar also participated in the javelin throw, in the precision of the javelin and the slalom and was also a finalist in the three events.

After retiring from Telco, he saw a retired life in Pune where his son Arjun Murlikant Petkar is employed in the army.

(With the exception of the title, this story has not been published by NDTV staff and is published from a unionized flow.)