Murlikant Petkar Honored with Arjuna Award for Lifetime Achievement, 52 Years After Securing India's First Paralympic Gold
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Mumbai, Jan 2 (NationPress) The Sports Ministry has made additional adjustments and has conferred the Arjuna Award (Lifetime) upon para-swimmer Murlikant Rajaram Petkar, who is recognized as India's first gold medallist in the Paralympic Games. This prestigious award comes 52 years after he etched his name in history for the nation in Heidelberg, Germany.
A soldier serving with the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) of the Indian Army, Petkar faced a life-altering injury that left him paraplegic. He clinched the gold medal in the men's 50m freestyle swimming at the 1972 Paralympic Games in Heidelberg, Germany, marking him as the first Indian to win an individual gold medal in any Olympics or Paralympic Games.
Petkar endured severe wounds during an attack on an army camp in Srinagar amid the 1965 war with Pakistan. In his journey to winning the gold medal, he astonishingly set three world records, yet he remained unrecognized with the Arjuna Award for excellence in sports for nearly five decades, as para-sports received minimal acknowledgment in that era.
Now at the age of 80, Petkar is set to receive his award from the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, during a special ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, 2025.
In 2018, Petkar was also honored with the Padma Shri.
The remarkable achievements of this legendary para-swimmer have been largely overlooked for years due to the lack of recognition for para-sports from both the public and government at that time, compounded by limited facilities and support. Despite these challenges, Petkar persevered to secure a gold medal.
Petkar is a versatile athlete who had explored various sports before finding success in para-swimming. He aspired to be the nation's leading boxer prior to his disability, having won a gold medal in boxing at the Military Games in Japan just months before his injury.
He represented India in the Paralympic Games of 1968 and 1972. In the 1968 Paralympic Games held in Mexico, he competed in para-table tennis and advanced to the second round. In 1972, he not only swam but also participated in javelin throw, precision javelin throw, and slalom, reaching the finals in all three disciplines.
After retiring from TELCO, Petkar now enjoys a peaceful life in Pune, where his son Arjun Murlikant Petkar serves in the Army.
