New Delhi, March 26 (NationPress) Veteran shot putter and javelin thrower Bhagyashree Jadhav, who proudly served as India’s flagbearer at the Paris Paralympics alongside Sumit Antil, is determined to win a medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics.

Having missed the podium at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games, Bhagyashree is optimistic that fortune will favor her in LA 2028.

The 37-year-old athlete from Maharashtra has developed a special bond with the historic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the venue for track and field events at the second Khelo India Para Games 2025. Despite being wheelchair-bound, Bhagyashree clinched two gold medals in shot put and javelin, showcasing her impressive form.

Competing in the F 33-34 category (lower limb disabilities), she has amassed six gold medals across three events in the last 18 months.

“This is a remarkable venue. I strive to deliver my best here. This stadium has been a witness to the rich history of Indian athletics. During the inaugural Khelo India Para Games, I felt an extraordinary experience upon my arrival. It’s also highly accommodating for para athletes, allowing us to concentrate on our performance without distractions,” Bhagyashree shared with SAI Media.

On Sunday, she triumphed in shot put with a throw of 7.30 meters, outpacing Medha Jayant of Karnataka (4.65m) significantly.

Previously, she secured victory in the javelin throw with a distance of 13.57 meters, while Deepika Rani from Uttar Pradesh took second place with 10.42 meters, again demonstrating her dominance by a three-meter margin. Bhagyashree had previously won two gold medals at the first edition of KIPG in New Delhi in 2023.

Bhagyashree entered para sports in 2017, making headlines after winning two gold medals in javelin throw and shot put at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in March. Following these achievements, she is now gearing up for her third Paralympics.

“My next target is the Paralympics,” Bhagyashree stated. “Though it’s nearly three years away, I am eager to compete for the third time and win a medal for my country. At Tokyo 2020, I placed seventh in shot put, and in Paris 2024, I finished fifth. This time, my aim is to bring home a medal for India,” she added.

Originating from the small village of Honvadaj in Nanded district, Maharashtra, where awareness of para sports was virtually nonexistent before her success, Bhagyashree belongs to a joint family. Their support was vital during her recovery after a severe accident in 2006 that left her in a coma and on a ventilator for an extended period—an event she prefers to avoid discussing.

“My family has been instrumental in my success. The accident left me on a ventilator for a prolonged duration. I was in a critical state. After that traumatic experience, my family stood unwaveringly by my side. It’s a painful memory I choose not to recall. However, I have moved beyond that incident. Now, my primary goal is to bring honor to my family, state, and nation,” she remarked.

Reflecting on her journey into para sports, Bhagyashree credits her brother Prakash Jadhav Kamble for encouraging her involvement. “My brother was advised that I could excel in sports for the differently-abled. Thus, I entered this field. I have been participating in para sports since 2017, starting with shot put and javelin. My debut event was the Mayor's Cup in Pune in 2017, where I secured a gold and a bronze medal.”

Bhagyashree has brought pride to India on numerous occasions. At the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, she earned a silver medal in the shot put F34 category with a throw of 7.54 meters.

“In 2019, I won two bronze medals at the World Para Athletics Championships in China. Following that, I claimed a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Para Games. I represented the Indian team at the Tokyo Paralympics, reaching the finals and finishing seventh. In 2021, I earned a bronze medal at the Dubai World Cup. I have proven my worth everywhere, but I feel incomplete without a Paralympic medal,” she concluded.