'His Friends Gave Him 2 Lakh Rupees': Silver Medalist Yogesh Kathuniya's Family Gets Emotional | Tokyo Paralympics

From being paralysed in 2006 to winning a silver medal in 2021, Yogesh Kathuniya has come a long way. Here is the story of Yogesh's humble beginnings and how his friends helped him financially.

Image: Twitter/ @ianuragthakur

Yogesh Kathuniya won a silver medal in Discus Throw F56 at Tokyo Paralympics. He bagged the silver with a throw of 44.38m. He was surpassed by Brazillian Batista dos Santos Claudiney with a throw of 45.59m. 

It's raining medals!🇮🇳 @YogeshKathuniya wins #SILVER 🥈with a Season Best throw of 44.38mtrs in Men's Discus Throw F56 #paraathletics!#HappyJanmashtami India!!🎉#Praise4Para #Tokyo2020 #ParalympicsTokyo2020 #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/hGBOCOioFG

— Paralympic India 🇮🇳 #Cheer4India 🏅 #Praise4Para (@ParalympicIndia) August 30, 2021

Kathuniya comes from a humble family in Haryana. He hails from Bahadurgarh. He studied till 12th in an army school, while his higher studies were completed from Kirori Mal College in New Delhi. His family member said that there was talent in Yogesh, but they alwyays lacked monetary assistance, and this assistance was provided by Yogesh's friends. 

"Firstly, let me tell you that we did not have money. Once, his friends gave him 2 lakh rupees and sent him to Germany, later on, again, they gave 1.5 lakh rupees for Yogesh's travel," a family member told ANI. 

"We are feeling so good that we have no words! We are very happy right now," he continued. 

This Silver Is Gold For Me: Yogesh's Mother

#WATCH "This silver medal is equivalent to a gold medal for me. Today, my happiness knows no limits," says Meena Devi, Yogesh Kathuniya's mother on her son winning a Silver medal at Tokyo Paralympics pic.twitter.com/uogKyQHPpu

— ANI (@ANI) August 30, 2021

"This silver medal is equivalent to a gold medal for me. Today, my happiness knows no limits," says Meena Devi, Yogesh Kathuniya's mother said.

"He has been struggling a lot. He got paralysed in 2006. We took a lot of efforts for his treatment. He was on a wheel-chair for three years.

In fact, doctors from Chandigarh had told that he won't be able to walk in 2006, but I had the belief that he will walk and so he did," she continued. 

#WATCH | Tokyo: Discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya got emotional after winning a silver medal in class F56 in paralympics

"I am exalted on winning the silver medal. I want to thank SAI, PCI (Paralympic Committee of India), & especially my mother for their support," he says pic.twitter.com/OlKhLSxkAC

— ANI (@ANI) August 30, 2021

Kathuniya himself got emotional on the pitch after the final of discus throw. India's medal tally is at 7 now with all the medals coming in the span of just 24 hours.