India is happy for me: Devendra Jhajharia

JAIPUR: Devendra Jhajharia wasn't surprised when he, along with former India hockey captain Sardar Singh, was named for Khel Ratna. "I was expecting it," Jhajharia told TOI on Thursday. That doesn't lessen the joy, though.
Jaipur-based Jhajharia will be the first differently abled athlete to receive the coveted award. "My family and I are obviously very happy," para-athlete Jhajharia, who won the javelin gold in F46 category at the Rio Paralympics, said."Going by the number of calls I have received, I feel entire India is happy for me."
Acknowledging the support he received from his family, Mahindra Scorpio Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) winner Jhajharia also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for encouraging and inspiring him. "It is not always that para-athletes find mention in a Prime Minister's speech," he said.
However, the 37-year-old para-athlete feels he should have got the award 12 years ago, when he had won the gold in the same event at the Athens Paralympics. "I had won the gold with a world record," he said. "I should have got this award at that time." Better late than never, he agreed.
He does admit that the outlook towards para-athletes have changed since his Rio gold. "Earlier no one would invite a para-athlete for a talk show on the same platform with normal athletes."
If his Athens gold went largely unnoticed, the one at Rio was celebrated across the country. "I could feel the difference," he admitted. Khel Ratna is a continuation of that celebration. Incidentally, Jhajharia improved his world record in Rio with a throw of 63.97m. He had received the Arjuna Award in 2004 and was the first para-athlete ever to have been honoured with Padmashri in 2012.
Hailing from Churu district in Rajasthan, Jhajharia lost part of his left arm when he was eight, after being electrocuted.
Despite advancing age, he is not willing to rest on his laurels yet. "There is the Asian Para Games next year," he said. "I am preparing for it."
And then there is Tokyo Paralympics in 2020. "I will definitely be there in Tokyo." And return with a gold and world record, maybe.
Sporting honour probables
Khel Ratna recommendations: Devendra Jhajharia (ParaAthlete) and Sardar Singh (Hockey).
Arjuna Awards recommendations: VJ Surekha (Archery), Khushbir Kaur (Athletics), Arokin Rajiv (Athletics), Prasanthi Singh (Basketball), L Devendro Singh (Boxing), Cheteshwar Pujara (Cricket), Harmanpreet Kaur (Cricket), Oinam Bembem Devi (Football), SSP Chawrasia (Golf), S V Sunil (Hockey), Jasvir Singh (Kabaddi), P N Prakash (Shooting), A Amalraj (Table Tennis), Saketh Myneni (Tennis), Satyawart Kadian (Wrestling), Mariyappan Thangavelu (Para-Athlete) and Varun Bhati (Para-Athlete)