Para javelin thrower in Odisha overcomes spinal cord injury to script international glory

Healthy and normal people often crib and complain about their lives. However, a physically disabled person suffering from severe spinal cord injury in Odisha has overcome her limitations to bring national and international glory to her State as a para javelin thrower.

Meet 30-year-old Suchitra Parida from Bhuana village under Gop block in Puri district who has excelled in wheelchair javelin throw at the national and international level with her sheer determination and hard work. Though Suchitra’s lower limbs are not functioning due to the severe spinal cord injury because of an unfortunate injury that has not deterred her spirit from achieving success in sports.

Para-javelin thrower Suchitra has so far managed to win a bronze medal in the National Championship held in Bhubaneswar in 2022, a silver medal each in the National Championship in Pune in 2023 and in the Open International in Bangalore in the same year. 

Bolstered by her performances in the tournaments, she emerged as champion at the World Ability Sports Game in Thailand in the same year. She also clinched gold medal in the Khelo India Games. Subsequently, her performances improved in leaps and bounds as she went on to bag two gold medals by emerging champions in the National Championship in Goa and Open International in Bengaluru this year.

Suchitra suffered a severe spinal cord injury on April 28, 2016, when she fell down from a ladder while plucking mangoes from a tree in her backyard. She was 22 then.

“Following the severe injury, my lower limbs didn’t work. I had to undergo treatment for years at many hospitals. While undergoing physiotherapy at SV Nirtar in Olatpur, my physiotherapist advised me to play basketball to maintain fitness. I followed his advice and practiced basketball on wheelchair despite resistance from my family. Subsequently, I was selected for the Indian team to play in the Asian- Oceania Championship in Thailand in 2018. Though I played basketball, I didn’t get much success as it was a team game,” said Suchitra.

“Then I switched over to javelin throw in 2022. Without any knowledge and much practice, I won bronze medal in the National Championship at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar in 2022. I was really encouraged by the show and never looked back. A private social organisation named Better Life Foundation came forward to provide a room to me near Kalinga Stadium in 2023 so that I could regularly practice under a coach. They also ensured all kinds of facilities for my smooth training. My performance improved a lot under my new coach Malaya Ranjan Pati. With regular training and proper practice, I learnt the subtle nuances of the sport and started winning many more national and international medals,” she added.

Suchitra is now so much confident about her game that she is eager to represent India in the Para-Olympics and bring laurels for the country by winning a medal. However, Suchitra rues over the fact that para-athletes are yet to be treated at par with normal athletes by the government.

“I request the State government to provide us with a sports hostel at Kalinga Stadium like the normal athletes. If the para-athletes get opportunities for regular training and practice, their performances will improve in leaps and bounds and they will be able to bring more glory for the country at the international level,” said Suchitra.

“After suffering from the injury, I became completely dependent on others as my lower limbs didn’t function. I thought there was nothing left in my life. However, with God’s grace, my weakness became my strength and I have achieved something in my life and no more dependent upon others. People still poke funs at me by addressing me as lame and disabled. However, I didn’t mind their words anymore as I am focused on my aim to become an accomplished para-athlete for my country and state,” she signed off.