‘My Final Wish Is Fulfilled’: Paralympic Legend Murlikant Petkar Elated On Getting Arjuna Award

The first gold medalist from India to the Paralympic Games, Murlikant Rajaram Petkar was delighted by the news that the Ministry of Sports had recommended it for the Arjuna Prize in the Lifetime category and said that his only wish had been carried out. Petkar won a gold medal with a free 50m of the 1972 paralympic games swimming in Heidelberg, Germany, becoming the first Indian to win an individual gold medal at the Olympic Games or the Paralympic Games. However, its success went unnoticed and not rewarded for decades because para-sports did not obtain a lot of recognition at that time and were not taken into account for the Arjuna Prize, the highest sports prize before the Khel Ratna in 1991-1992.

On Thursday, Petkar was nominated for the Arjuna prize in the life category by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs, 52 years after he should have received it after his brilliant triumph at the Paralympic Games, which came with some world records.

Petkar, 80, decided not to dwell on the delay in obtaining the price, but rather expressed his joy at the government finally recognizing his achievements. The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conferred the Padma Shri Prize on Petkar in 2018 and the Arjuna Prize in the life category is the second recognition of the current government.

“It was my only wish (to be achieved). Before today, it was the only regret, this one was left and now I accomplished it too and I am very happy with that. I have not obtained it earlier, it is true, but now I am happy to get it. It is always good to be recognized. Whatever it is for good, it’s God’s Wish,” his son Murlikant in Ians.

“We thank the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian army, the sports authority of India, the government of the Maharashtra and all those who have supported us over the years,” said Murlikant Petkar and his son Arjun.

Arjun also thanked the filmmaker Kabir Khan for having made a biopic on Murlikant Petkar, champion of Chandu, who highlighted his life story and was part of popular culture.

Petkar was also happy that the Para-Sportspersons nowadays get their deadline after their success in the Paralympic Games unlike when he participated. This year, the government awarded Khel Ratna to the Para-athlete Praveen Kumar, who won the gold medal during the height jump to the 2024 Paralympic Games, as well as the world chess champion D. Gukesh, the double bronze medalist of the Paris Olympic Games, Manu Bhaker, and the star of the Bronze Bronze Bronze Bronze Singh.

In the list of 32 preselected for the Arjuna Prize, there are 17 para-sportspersons, including Javelin Thrower Navdeep, Sachin Khilri, Dharambir, Archer Rakesh, Para-Shuttlers Nitish Kumar, Thulasimathi Murugesan, Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivanand Manisha Ramadass.

Asked about his dream for para-sportspersons in the country, Murlikant Petkar said that he would like to see India win 50 medals at the Los Angeles Paralympic Games in 2028.

“The PCI (Paralympic Committee of India) had set an objective of 25 medals for Paris and we have won 29 medals. Now, I gave a goal of 50 medals. I will be even happier if it happens,” said Petkar.