WAPC 2025: From losing his hand to turning heads, Rinku comes a long way with extraordinary gold
In a thrilling moment for Indian para-athletics, Rinku grabbed the gold medal in the men’s F46 javelin throw at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi. He shattered the meet record with a massive 66.37-meter effort on his fourth attempt, lighting up the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday.
Rinku didn’t just win alone—he sparked a one-two finish for India. Fellow para-athlete Sundar Singh Gurjar snagged the silver, while Ajeet Singh came close but ended up in fourth place.
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement from a packed crowd, including Rinku’s family and friends who cheered him on every step. “I’m so thankful to my supporters and my family,” Rinku said after his victory. “Their presence encouraged me a great deal. It was my day—everything went my way, from the conditions to everything else.”
Rinku’s journey to this gold started in tragedy. Years ago, as a young boy in his village of Dhamar near Rohtak in Haryana, he lost his arm in a farming equipment accident. The whole community went quiet in grief for weeks. “That was a dark day for us,” shared his uncle, Wazir Singh Hooda. “When he lost his arm, the village fell into a sad silence. For us, it felt like the end of the world, but life surprises you when you see where he has reached today.”
The family kept things low-key, but Hooda opened up about how Rinku’s spark returned. After the accident, the 9-year-old skipped stones across a lake near their home for fun. That simple activity caught attention and led them to send him to the local stadium in Rohtak to try athletics.
Hooda pondered what might have been without that accident. “Who knows what would have happened!” he said. “He could have been better than Neeraj Chopra, a bigger star. Or maybe it wouldn’t have pushed him to this level. We’re grateful to God for all he has achieved as an athlete.”
The village rallied behind Rinku, with calls going out to everyone to head to the stadium—a three-hour drive away. Those who made it witnessed pure magic, a moment they’ll cherish forever in Indian para-athletics history.
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