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NAGPUR: “14 saal ka vanvaas khatam ho gaya,” was how Vijay Munishwar reacted after the government officially released the list of the sport and adventure awardees on Friday. The city-based former para-athlete, among the few who introduced para-powerlifting in the country, will be bestowed with the Dronacharya Award (life-time category) on August 29.
“Since 2006, the federation recommended my name for the Dronacharya Award nine times. Twice I was recommended by my students. Finally, the wait is over,” Munishwar, the first from the city to receive the prestigious award, told TOI.
As a para-powerlifter, Munishwar represented India at three Paralympics – Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000). He was bestowed with the Arjuna Award in 2000. Later, Munishwar started his journey as coach. He also has the distinction of representing the country at three Paralympics. He was part of the Indian contingent at the Athens, Beijing and London events as a coach.
Munishwar has produced many para-powerlifters who have won medals at international level. His ward Rajinder Singh Rahelu was the first Indian to clinch a medal at a Paralympic. Rahelu clinched bronze in the 56kg category of the Athens Paralympics in 2004. Munishwar also coached the likes of Sachin Chaudhary and Farman Basha both of whom have won medals at the Para Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
“Rahelu’s medal-winning feat at Athens will always remain the highlight of my coaching career,” Munishwar said. “He was unwell going into the main event. In practice he used to lift around 185kg. But his condition was so bad a day before the event that he wasn’t able to lift even 100kg. From yoga to positive visualization we worked on many things to get him ready for the event. The efforts were worth as he clinched the bronze,” Munishwar said, remembering his ward Rahelu, who went on to win the Arjuna Award.
Munishwar, posted as a civil engineer at WCL’s Jaripatka office, has won many prestigious awards in the past including Shiv Chhatrapati Award and Dadoji Konddeo award.
“All this wouldn’t have been possible without my mother. In the 1990s we didn’t have funds for the promotion of paralifting. The pension that my mother used to get fuelled our paralifting dream in those days. Along the way, I was fortunate to get guidance from good ‘gurus’. Also, my wards worked hard. Without them succeeding at the international level I wouldn’t have got the Dronacharya Award,” Munishwar said.
“Since 2006, the federation recommended my name for the Dronacharya Award nine times. Twice I was recommended by my students. Finally, the wait is over,” Munishwar, the first from the city to receive the prestigious award, told TOI.
As a para-powerlifter, Munishwar represented India at three Paralympics – Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000). He was bestowed with the Arjuna Award in 2000. Later, Munishwar started his journey as coach. He also has the distinction of representing the country at three Paralympics. He was part of the Indian contingent at the Athens, Beijing and London events as a coach.
Munishwar has produced many para-powerlifters who have won medals at international level. His ward Rajinder Singh Rahelu was the first Indian to clinch a medal at a Paralympic. Rahelu clinched bronze in the 56kg category of the Athens Paralympics in 2004. Munishwar also coached the likes of Sachin Chaudhary and Farman Basha both of whom have won medals at the Para Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
“Rahelu’s medal-winning feat at Athens will always remain the highlight of my coaching career,” Munishwar said. “He was unwell going into the main event. In practice he used to lift around 185kg. But his condition was so bad a day before the event that he wasn’t able to lift even 100kg. From yoga to positive visualization we worked on many things to get him ready for the event. The efforts were worth as he clinched the bronze,” Munishwar said, remembering his ward Rahelu, who went on to win the Arjuna Award.
Munishwar, posted as a civil engineer at WCL’s Jaripatka office, has won many prestigious awards in the past including Shiv Chhatrapati Award and Dadoji Konddeo award.
“All this wouldn’t have been possible without my mother. In the 1990s we didn’t have funds for the promotion of paralifting. The pension that my mother used to get fuelled our paralifting dream in those days. Along the way, I was fortunate to get guidance from good ‘gurus’. Also, my wards worked hard. Without them succeeding at the international level I wouldn’t have got the Dronacharya Award,” Munishwar said.
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