Para athlete Sunil Kumar Sahu, a resident of Malakhera in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, has walked a path defined by relentless struggle and profound resilience. Born into a modest family, Sunil faced devastating hardships that tested his spirit to the absolute limit. His father, Rajesh Sahu, used to run an ice cream factory during the summer months and pull a rickshaw in the winter to provide for the household. The year 2012 brought unimaginable tragedy to the family when his elder brother passed away, followed immediately by a severe accident at the ice cream factory where a receiver blast badly damaged both of Sunil's arms and one of his legs.
Enduring Crushing Personal and Physical Blows
Following the horrific accident, Sunil spent months fighting for his life in the ICU. While he survived, his arms permanently lost their functionality. The series of catastrophes did not stop there, as his father suffered a fatal heart attack right after Sunil returned from the hospital, and his elder sister passed away shortly thereafter. Amid taunts from society suggesting he would spend his life begging, his mother Prem Devi stood like a rock beside him. She worked as a domestic help doing sweeping and moaching jobs, and cleaned hospital floors to sustain the family, teaching her son that to achieve greatness, one must first learn to be humble.
Pursuing Athletic Dreams Through Hard Labor
In his childhood, Sunil aspired to join the military, but after learning about Paralympic champion Devendra Jhajharia following his accident, he resolved to win honors for the nation in para sports. With financial conditions in utter ruin, he continued his education and completed his BSTC qualification. To fund his athletic training, he worked catering jobs at weddings, washed utensils, pulled a rickshaw, and taught in schools. Throughout this grueling phase, his younger brother Anil worked to support the family. Support also came from his cousin Hariom Sahu, elder sister Reena, and Hemraj Gurjar from Kota who provided free milk for an entire year.
Guidance, Training, and Perseverance
Coaches Ajit Singh Rathore, Tarun Sharma, and Pawan Bhardwaj provided free coaching and guidance to sharpen his athletic skills. Financial assistance of ten thousand rupees per month from Pawan Rao and eight thousand rupees from the Dharmansh institution ensured his training sessions never faced interruption. The initial five years brought constant failures, injuries, and finishes in fourth and fifth positions. Even during the COVID-19 lockdown, he practiced tirelessly through the nights on streets and fields. This unwavering dedication finally paid off over the past three years, during which Sunil clinched a total of twenty medals, including twelve gold, five silver, and three bronze.
Reaching National and International Milestones
Sunil secured the all-India first rank in the T-38 category for the one hundred meter and four hundred meter running events. On the international front, he won a silver medal in the long jump at the 7th Indian Open Para Athletics International Championship held in Bengaluru. Furthermore, he claimed six medals across the Khelo India Para Games and national competitions in Pune, Goa, Chennai, and Delhi, alongside multiple gold and silver medals at state-level events in Jaipur, Alwar, Bikaner, and Ganganagar. Honored with prestigious accolades such as the Major Dhyan Chand Samarpan Award in 2024, Bharat Gaurav Award, Swarn Bharat Award, and International Youth Icon Award, his ultimate ambition is now to secure a gold medal at the Paralympics.
