New Delhi, March 25 (NationPress) In the realm of sports, age is merely a number when one maintains both physical and mental fitness. Legendary athletes such as Tiger Woods (49), Cristiano Ronaldo (40), and Rafael Nadal (38) have challenged the concept of age in their careers, achieving the pinnacle of sports through relentless determination and enduring various injuries along the way.

At the age of 48, Kerala's para powerlifter Joby Mathew boasts a remarkable personality and a robust physique. Born with underdeveloped legs, he has secured four gold and one bronze medal for India at the international level. Recently, Joby clinched gold in the 65kg category at the ongoing Khelo India Para Games 2025, improving upon his silver medal in the 59 kg category from the event's inaugural edition.

Despite being born in Kottayam with a challenging condition, Joby has thrived in the sporting arena for the past 25 years. His aspiration is to win a gold medal for India at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, and he is unfazed by the fact that he will be 51 years old at that time.

Joby lives with Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency, a complex birth defect that results in one leg being shorter than the other. Currently working as a manager at Bharat Petroleum, he initially explored shot put and discus throw before shifting his focus to powerlifting, in addition to earning medals in table tennis at the national level.

“I cannot alter my physical limitations, so I strive to achieve my objectives with my existing capabilities. After beginning para-powerlifting in 2010, I won my first gold medal for Kerala at the National Para Games held in Panchkula that same year. Additionally, I secured gold in both shot put and discus throw at the same event. This marked the start of my journey during a period when para-sports were not recognized in Kerala,” Joby shared with SAI Media.

Joby noted that the Kerala government only acknowledged para-sports in December 2023, yet he had already made a name for himself on the international stage.

“As an international powerlifter, I took part in the Para World Championship in Korea in 2022, also known as the Asia-Oceania World Championship, where I excelled in four segments: winning the Asian gold medal in 59kg, Oceania gold medal in 59kg, Best Lift gold in 59kg, and Total Lift gold in 59kg,” he recounted.

Reflecting on a challenging phase in his career as an international para powerlifter, Joby remarked, “In total, I hold five international medals. I was set to compete in the 2023 Asian Para Games in China but regrettably could not attend due to an invalid accreditation card. That was an incredibly distressing time for me.”

Although Joby had a prime chance to represent India at the Paris Paralympics, he missed it for undisclosed reasons. However, he remains focused on the 2028 LA Games.

“After the Asian Para Games, I was chosen for the World Championship in Egypt, regarded as a stepping stone to the Paris Paralympics, but I was unable to participate, leaving my dream of competing for India in the Paralympics unfulfilled. My current aspiration is to secure a gold medal for the country at the 2028 Paralympics,” he stated.

Having excelled internationally, Joby reaffirmed his primary objective as a para powerlifter. “I am currently preparing for the Para-Powerlifting World Cup set to take place in Egypt in October. I am a determined competitor. My devotion is to my country. I seek neither financial gain nor accolades. My goal is to win a Paralympic gold medal for India. In doing so, I aspire to motivate young para powerlifters,” he expressed.

When questioned about his prospects of winning a medal for the nation at age 51 in 2028, Joby replied, “Age is inconsequential to me. I am ready to put in the effort. I have faith in God. With the right support, I can achieve it. This is not solely about me; it represents our country.”

Discussing the Khelo India Para Games, Joby sees these events as a significant opportunity for seasoned para-athletes like himself. “This platform is crucial for older competitors like me, particularly as the Khelo India Para Games plays a vital role in selecting athletes for the forthcoming World Championship, an event organized by SAI,” he concluded.