Devendra Jhajharia receives Padma Bhushan, first para athlete to do so

The legendary Devendra Jhajharia on Monday became the first para athlete to receive the Padma Bhushan, the country’s third highest civilian award.
The 40-year-old Jhajharia received the prestigious award from President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Jhajharia is a multiple-time Paralympics medal winner, having won his maiden gold during the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, his second gold medal during the Rio Games in 2016, and a silver medal during the 2020 Tokyo edition last year.
The javelin thrower competes in the F46 events in the Paralympics and was among the four Paralympic medalls to be conferred with the Padma awards this year.

President Kovind presents Padma Bhushan to Shri Devendra Jhajharia for Sports. He is the first Indian Para-Javelin thrower and the first Indian para-athlete to win two gold medals at Paralympics. pic.twitter.com/hIiQNcAf1V
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 21, 2022
Tokyo Paralympics double medall shooter Avani Lekhara received the Padma Shri for her excellent showing last year.
Lekhara won a gold medal in the 10m air rifle standing event and a bronze in the 50m rifle 3 positions event.

Honoured and grateful to be awarded the Padma Shri. This award is a testament to not only my efforts, but the sacrifices of my family and the support of everyone involved in my career helping me achieve all I have. I look forward to representing the country with the same passion! https://t.co/Y7FgPKBLlU
— Avani Lekhara अवनी लेखरा (@AvaniLekhara) March 21, 2022
Alongside Jhajharia and Lekhara, gold medal-winning javelin thrower Sumit Anil, gold medall in badminton Pramod Bhagat were the other Paralympic stars to be conferred with the honour.
That he has achieved a first was not lost on Jhajharia.
“This is the first time a para athlete has got the Padma Bhushan, and I thank Prime Miner Narendra Modi for this. Now I will have more responsibility towards the country, to win more medals for India,” Jhajharia said.
“To the youth, I will say work hard. One minute of work will not get you anything. I have worked hard for the past 20 years, 2002 was the first time I won a gold medal,” he added.

Lekhara tweeted, “Honoured and grateful to be awarded the Padma Shri. This award is a testament to not only my efforts, but the sacrifices of my family and the support of everyone involved in my career helping me achieve all I have.
“I look forward to representing the country with the same passion!” PTI AH AH