Among the many medals he has won for India are gold medals at the 2005 Junior National Level athletics and the 2009 World Games and silver at the 2006 Junior World Athletics in Ireland.
After winning gold medals for India on international levels, an athlete expects to live a life of dignity at the very least. That is, however, not the case for champion swimmer Bharat Kumar, who despite earning gold medals for India lives an extremely stressful life.
Hailing from Haryana, Bharat Kumar is a paralympic swimmer. He does not have a left arm since his birth. Among the many medals he has won for India are gold medals at the 2005 Junior National Level athletics and the 2009 World Games and silver at the 2006 Junior World Athletics in Ireland. Apart from this, he has also participated in 2010 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games held in China.
But life has been tough for this athlete. He is one of the six siblings in his family and the son of labourer who works as a soil digger. He might have won scores of medals, but the athlete has to wash cars to go about his daily life and earn a living.
Bad financial conditions forced his father to send a young Bharat to his paternal aunt in Ghaziabad, where he spent a part of his childhood. Eight-year-old Bharat was given the responsibility of bathing the four buffaloes that his aunt had. This is where Bharat developed an interest in swimming. He would take the buffalo in the river, hold it's tail and go about swimming.
After spending time in Ghaziabad, he returned to his village where he won many medals for his school in the zonal and inter-zonal levels.
Before becoming a swimmer, Bharat was an athlete. But a foot injury in 2010 Commonwealth Games, forced him to pull out of athletics. However, he didn't lose hope and decided to become a swimmer. Practice and immense dedication finally made him a national level swimmer in 2011. He has won about 50 medals in swimming since then.
Practising in the Nehru stadium, Bharat could not afford the diet that an athlete needs. As a result, he sat down with beggars near a temple to have his food.
He says, "I didn't have enough money for a good diet. So I had to sit with beggars near the Sai temple to have my food. That was my diet."
Speaking to iamin, Bharat says, "I started athletics with a lot of struggle and did reach a good way, but time has not always been with me. I am from a very poor family. Despite earning so many medals for our country, I still have to wash cars to earn a living."
"I don't have an arm and I don't need one. All I need is some support. I promise to bring medals in 2017 Asian Games provided I get the desired support. I have approached many celebrities for support but all in vain. But this time, I have written to Modiji for help and hope he does." he added.
If you wish to help Bharat Kumar, please contact 9811829212.
This article was first published on iamin.in. For more such hyperlocal stories, visit their website.
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 "Bharat Kumar")
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