Blind in one eye, athlete Ram Karan Singh overcame an injury in his other eye to win silver medal at Asian Para Games
Visually challenged athlete and Arjuna Award winner Ram Karan Singh recently won the Asian Para Games 800m silver medal in Incheon, South Korea. It gave an almost fairy tale ending to his fight against the odds, which began about six months ago, when this dream of his was dealt a severe blow. Literally.
Twenty-three-year-old Singh, who was blind in the right eye since the age of three, lost complete vision in his left eye too in March this year, after he was injured in a police lathicharge in New Delhi.
Singh was part of a group protesting in front of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's residence against issuing an ordinance on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, which was being planned by the then UPA government. Refusing to retract, the police used force to evict the group, and Singh's left eye was at the receiving end.
The incident left his left eye temporarily blinded. He had the Games trials in April, and he feared he could never run again.
However, not only did Singh run in Incheon, he also won the silver medal in 800m T13 category on October 19.
"I knew what it feels like not to have complete vision in one eye," Singh says. "But to come out of an incident like that and run is a different challenge altogether. I cannot explain how tough it is."
Singh, who hails from Kanpur, had to be operated upon his injured left eye and had to remain in New Delhi for three months. He was only allowed to walk or, at the most, jog for the first two months.
"I was asked to take complete rest for a few weeks and not practise at all. They (doctors) told me that if I practised, my situation could get worse," Singh recalls.
Call it bravery or pure passion, he decided to go for the trials in Bangalore. And with a yet-to-heal left eye, managed to run within the qualification timings.
"The qualification timings were also competitive, so I didn't think I could even make it to the Games, forget about winning a medal," Singh says.
And once his eye healed, Singh took his training to the next level.
"I decided to work double hard. I didn't take even a single break from practise after that," he adds.
Going into the Games, Singh did not expect to win a medal. After all, he considered himself lucky just to be there. But when his hands touched that silver medal, all the troubles that he endured over the past six months came rushing back in front of his eyes.
"What made me happier than winning the medal was how I managed to turn things around after that incident," he says. "It all came flashing back in my mind. I have run races before, but I think I ran the best race of my life that day."
'Traumatic times'
Misfortunes seem to chase Singh. In 1995, when Singh was all of five, a firecracker accident had damaged his left eye. A surgery in 2005 healed it. But tragedy struck again on the same eye, and it threatened to finish his career.
"I would have been a big blow for me had I not been able to participate in the Games. Despite achieving so much in life, such a thing happened to me. I couldn't bear it. Those times were traumatic. I thought my life will become a complete waste without running. But I've never done anything wrong in life, and maybe God rewarded me for it," an emotional Singh says.
The incident might have shaken him, but Singh says he will continue to fight for the rights of those who are deprived.
"Incidences and problems will keep happening, but that doesn't mean you stop fighting. We shouldn't give up.
"If we achieve something big, it doesn't mean we should stop fighting for people who are still lagging behind. If we don't come ahead, who will? I received an Arjuna award, and if I don't fight for my friends now, who will? If such a thing ever happens again in the future, I will once again fight for my friends," Singh says.
He also has some unfulfilled dreams on the track – running at the Olympics, and breaking records.
He admits it's tough, but adds, "Whatever you do, do it with your heart. You will find success. This Asian Games has scripted a new chapter in my life".
Singh's achievements
2010 Asian Para Games, Guangzhou: Silver
2011 World Championship, Turkey: Bronze
2014 Asian Para Games, Incheon: Silver
In 2012, Singh was conferred the prestigious Arjuna Award
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