Chennai, Oct 26 Tamil Nadu’s medal-winning sportspersons at the 5th Asian Para Games in Japan were accorded a warm welcome by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) here on Monday.
The returning athletes credited their international success to robust institutional backing, advance financial incentives from the state government, and years of gruelling personal sacrifices.
Reflecting on his gold medal-winning performance, para-athlete Dharmaraj Solairaj expressed deep gratitude to the SDAT, his family, and his coaches.
“Before we even left for the event, we were given financial incentives that served as a huge motivation. It ensured we faced no difficulties while competing abroad,” Solairaj told PTI Videos. “Further incentives have been announced after our return, which is a great joy and will heavily motivate the upcoming generation,” he added.
Despite securing the gold medal with a record, Solairaj candidly admitted he felt he had not delivered his absolute best. Looking ahead to next year’s World Championship, which is vital for Olympic qualification, he offered stern advice to the youth: “Do not get too involved in social media and stay away from drugs. Set a clear goal in sports or academics, and you will definitely achieve results.”
For para-badminton gold medalist Thulasimathi Murugesan, the podium finish was a deeply emotional moment that brought back memories of her father’s immense sacrifices. “Everything came into my mind in that moment. I felt like saying, ‘Appa, I made it. This is for you,'” she told PTI Videos.
Murugesan recalled facing severe criticism when she first stepped into the stadium, with detractors mocking her physical condition and questioning her father for encouraging a girl to pursue sports instead of studying. “People said, ‘Your hand is already broken. You are going to play and break your other hand’. But I didn’t take anything into my mind and was just running behind my dreams,” she remarked.
Outlining her future, she confirmed her participation in upcoming international tournaments in Thailand and Indonesia. With qualifications for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics beginning next year, she also plans to complete her medical education within a year to become a veterinary doctor, intending to balance both professional careers.
“Don’t wait for the right time to start. Be ready to get bored of doing the same routine daily, because with repetition I got perfection,” Murugesan advised aspiring athletes.
Para table tennis player J D Madan, who secured bronze medals in men’s singles and doubles in the highly competitive Class 1 category, emphasised the rigorous nature of the tournament against countries like Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea.
Madan attributed the stellar performance of the state’s contingent, which saw 12 of his colleagues win medals, to a dedicated para centre established by the SDAT member secretary over a year ago. “It was very useful, provided a lot of practice, and that helped for the tournament. Everyone from the government to the coaches is doing something right; otherwise, you can’t get these medals,” Madan told PTI Videos.
(PTI News)
