Twenty three war disabled retired Army personnel as well as ex-servicemen will participate in the Mumbai Marathon that will take place today.
Twenty three war disabled retired Army personnel as well as ex-servicemen will participate in the Mumbai Marathon that will take place today.
While the participation of 13 disabled retired army personnel is being coordinated by War Wounded Foundation, an NGO and is aimed at improving awareness among the general
public about the large community of war-disabled personnel, 10 disabled servicemen and ex-servicemen from Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre of Command Hospital, Pune will also participating in the 2.4 kilometre Champions With Disability race of the marathon.
Speaking to The Asian Age a day ahead of the marathon, the war veterans appeared energetic and excited about the impending race. Ranvir Singh, 55, from Haryana is set to take part for the fifth time in the six kilometre Dream Run. Hoshiyar Singh, 47, of Bhiwani, Haryana said he was participating in the marathon for the first time and said he chose to run because the people of Mumbai are very united and very helpful to each other.
Captain P. Dhayalan (retd) of Hubli Karnataka of 8 Engineer Regiment lost sight in his right eye and fingers in his hands and legs while participating in operations in Sri Lanka as part of Indian Peace Keeping Force’s mission there.
Mr Dhayalan, who was 31-years-old when the incident happened, is participating in the Mumbai marathon for the second time. “I want to show the world that disability is just a mind game and if you are strong from inside nothing can stop you. When I run normal people look at me and smile and take inspiration from me. This inspires me more,” he said.
Lance Naik Ashok Kumar, of Bhiwani was just 24 when he fought in the Kargil war with his Battalion (16 Grenadiers). Mr Kumar sustained severe injuries in his left leg from enemy artillery fire and was just 26 when he was medically boarded out of the army.
He said, “I sustained the injuries on July 25, 1999, but stayed on the glacier with my ammunition. I was shifted to the hospital on July 27 and later went through treatment for two years, after which doctors told me that I won’t be able to walk. But I never lost hope, I kept practicing and finally now I’m running a marathon.”
