From tragic school accident to mechanical engineering and Paralympic silver medal – Firstpost

Sachin Sarjerao Khilari clinched his maiden Paralympics medal on Wednesday. With his silver medal win, he took India's record medal tally at the 2024 Paris Games to 21. This is India's best ever performance in a single edition of the Paralympics. The previous best performance was achieved in Tokyo 2020.

Sachin Khilari won the silver medal in the men's F46 shot put with a throw of 16.32m, while Canada's Greg Stewart took gold with a throw of 16.38m. Croatia's Luka Bakovic won bronze with a throw of 16.27m.

Paralympics 2024 in Paris: News | Medal table | Schedule for India

Category F46 is intended for athletes whose upper limbs are impaired by limb weakness, limited muscle strength or limited passive range of motion.

Sachin's story is more inspiring than that of two World Championship gold medalists. Khilari is not only a highly successful sportsman but also a mechanical engineer and a visiting lecturer.

Who is Sachin Khilari?

Sachin Khilari, born into a farming family in Karagani village in Sangli district of Maharashtra, is an example of how disability can be a gift rather than a hindrance. After a tragic accident during his school days, his left hand is disabled.

Sachin was introduced to Para sports in 2015 and participated in the National Games in Jaipur in 2017 where he won the gold medal. He was later introduced to coach Satayanarayana who supported him in improving his game and helped him become a full-time athlete by 2019.

Sachin excels in both sports and academics and has achieved remarkable success as a mechanical engineer.

Congratulations to Sachin Khilari for his incredible performance in the #Paralympics2024! In a remarkable display of strength and determination, he has won a silver medal in the Men's Shot Put F46. India is proud of him. #Cheer4Bharat pic.twitter.com/JNteBI7yeO

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 4 September 2024

He also works as a guest lecturer at various institutions and helps students prepare for MPSC and UPSC exams.

Sachin has overcome tremendous challenges, including the loss of his mother at a young age and a serious injury from a bicycle accident. Multiple surgeries failed to fully heal his hand due to gangrene and muscle atrophy. Despite these obstacles, Sachin's father has been a steadfast supporter and has taken on the parental role for both Sachin and his younger brother. With his father's encouragement, Sachin has embraced his disability and excelled both physically and academically.

Important details about Sachin Khilari

Date of birth: October 23, 1989
Training Location: Azam Campus, Pune

Performance

• Asian Para Games (2022) – Gold Medal

• World Para Athletics Championships (2024) – Gold Medal

• World Para Athletics Championships (2023) – Gold Medal (AR)

• 5-time gold medalist at the National Para Athletics Championships

Important government intervention