Praveen Kumar: From Paralympic Silver to Padma Shri, a Journey of Resilience

• Praveen Kumar, a para high-jump athlete from Jewar, Greater Noida, received the Padma Shri for his international sports achievements.
• His career began in late 2018, facing a challenging category change from 42 to 44, the toughest in high-jump Paralympics, which initially broke his morale.
• With family and coach support, he overcame setbacks, qualified for the Paralympics in 2020, and won a silver medal in the 2021 Paralympic Games.
• Praveen secured a gold medal and an Asian record in the 2023 Asian Games, followed by another gold and Asian record at the 2024 Paralympics.
• He advocates for recognizing individual talent, fighting through difficulties, and calls for societal support for para-athletes, aiming for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.

Why It Matters: Praveen Kumar's journey exemplifies resilience, turning setbacks into triumphs with unwavering support and self-belief.