At 34, feels odd to receive Lifetime Achievement Award: Abhinav Bindra

As if the story of Deepa Malik is not inspiring enough, there was more in store on Thursday night. For the first time since the 46-year-old Malik bagged silver medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games in shot put F53, she was accompanied on the stage by her cancer-survivor father to share her moment of glory.

Malik, who received the Inspirational Athlete of the Year presented by a monthly sports magazine at its annual awards here, was emotional when she said: “In the series of felicitations that followed my medal-winning feat at Rio Paralympics, I missed my father very much as he could not be part of the functions because he was suffering from cancer. Today (Thursday), five days after being declared cancer-free, my father is here for the first time to share the award on stage.

“My parents taught us to never give up in life. My father never gave up and here he is, an inspiration to all after fighting cancer.”

Malik, after receiving a peck on her cheek from her father and mother, said that she was on the verge of quitting sports after not qualifying for the 2012 Paralympics. But she never gave up. “And, 2016 finally happened,” Malik said joyously.

Malik’s father, BK Nagpal, a retired colonel, said he was proud of his daughter. “My daughter said that she will cancel my cancer. And, she did it. I have lived my life to the fullest, I am happy. My son is well settled and my daughter is a Paralympian medallist,” said a proud Nagpal to the applause of the packed hall at a posh hotel in central Mumbai.

It was an evening where top sportspersons from all disciplines including badminton, shooting, motorsports, hockey, football and luge assembled under one roof.

While PV Sindhu was the magazine’s Sportsperson of the Year, it was a sight to see her present the Coach of the Year award to her mentor Pullela Gopichand, who has guided her to Rio Olympics silver medal.

Among the other award winners, the Lifetime Achievement of the Year went to ace shooter Abhinav Bindra.

Generally, at 34, sportspersons are in contention for the sportsperson of the year or the athlete of the year or such similar awards and are still active in their chosen field to attain more glory. But, here is Bindra, who has achieved all that a shooter could in 10m air rifle, and was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. 

The only Indian to win an individual gold at the Olympics (Beijing 2008), said tongue-in-cheek on accepting the award: “At 34, it feels odd to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. My journey has been an interesting one, a fulfilling one.”

Bindra, who retired from the sport after Rio 2016 to pave the way for youngsters, said: “As a 12-year-old boy, I hated sport. I was a champion at missing anything related to sport. But, I had the talent and the desire to work hard. Somehow, I fulfilled it and I will cherish this award.”

Rallyist Gaurav Gill, who won the Athlete of the Year for winning the Asia Pacific Rally Championship for the second time in his career in 2016, said that he was still trying to convince the government “that we are not entertainers but are athletes” to support him financially as “motorsport is the most expensive sport”.

Paralympic medallists Mariyappan Thangavelu, Devendra Jhajharia and Varun Bhati reminded everyone that success could be achieved despite the physical disabilities.

Cricketer KL Rahul, recuperating from a shoulder injury, was given the Gamechanger of the Year award while sprinter Milkha Singh won the Living Legend award, both of them, though, could not make it to the event, Rahul recuperating at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru while Milkha was overseas.

The Indian hockey team that won the Junior World Cup in December last year won the Team of the Year award while the services of hockey historian and statistician K Arumugam was recognised with Outstanding Contribution to Sports award.