Competing in the men’s T-44 high jump event at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, Praveen won silver by clearing the bar at 2.07m. It was Praveen’s personal best and an Asian record in his respective category.
Praveen’s coach Satyapal Singh, a Dronacharya Awardee, was elated as his athlete won silver on debut at the world’s biggest stage.
The last 15 months said the coach has been all about staying focused and managing bare minimum training facilities due to the pandemic.
Despite taking precautions, Praveen suffered a bout of Covid-19 in April. He was confined to four walls of the room for nearly 45 days. The coach said:
Born with a disability, Praveen’s left leg was shorter than the right. He felt inferior as he had to limp and walk. Praveen’s father is a small-time farmer in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, which is an hour’s drive from New Delhi. To pursue sports, Parveen shifted to New Delhi in February 2019.
Satyapal’s coaching was a big factor in Praveen’s success
Dissatisfied with being confined to local school sports, Praveen began to search for a specialized coach who could further fuel his passion for making big in the sports world. Praveen’s search ended in September 2018 when he came into contact with Satyapal. He had been involved in the Paralympic movement in India.
Satyapal’s vast experience in coaching para-athletes enabled Praveen to make an impact at the international level within a short span of time. Praveen won silver in the T44 high jump event at the 2019 World Junior Para Athletics Championships held in Switzerland.
The same year in November, Praveen qualified for the Tokyo Paralympic Games at the World Para Athletics Championships held in Dubai. The coach was impressed with Praveen’s natural jumping ability.
On Friday, Praveen thought of his school days dream of making it big in the sports world when he stepped on the high jump arena at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Also Read: “Golden girl strikes again”: India in awe of Avani Lekhara as she bags her second medal at the Paralympics
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