Khel Ratna Will Encourage Para-Athletes To Get More Medals In International Events: Odisha Shuttler Pramod Bhagat

Bhubaneswar: Paralympian shuttler from Odisha Pramod Bahgat, who was conferred Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award on Saturday, said the honour will motivate the para-athletes to win more medals in international events in future.

“I feel fortunate to have been selected for the award. I expect that more sportspersons from Odisha will get this highest award in sports in the country. I think I have shown the way to the young generation,” Pramod told the media on the sideline of the award giving ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

Stating that he was feeling happy and satisfied because the country treated able-bodied and para-athletes equally, Pramod said, “We won 19 medals in Tokyo Paralympics and we will win more medals in next Olympics.”

Speaking on the key to success, he said, “Like everybody, I have also faced many difficulties and problems during my struggling days. But one should not get cowed down by those issues and instead, face those like challenges on his path to success. Those are small matters which really do not matter, if one has set his eyes on a bigger goal.”

On his advice to young sportspersons, Pramod said, “There is no alternative to hard labour and determination. The youngsters should not feel discouraged by failures. They should learn from own weaknesses, work on those and keep on pracitising relentlessly. They will definitely get their results.”