Chandigarh couple’s dream of playing Tokyo Paralympics shattered: Table tennis players Mukesh and Poonam had qualified last year; Been practicing for months, now Poonam’s knee got fractured

Para athlete Mukesh Kumar and his wife Poonam.

Chandigarh’s Paralympic table tennis players Mukesh Kumar and Poonam’s dream of fighting in Tokyo has been shattered. The reason is that one of the pair has got a fracture in the knee of Poonam. Since then both the players are a bit disappointed, but still they have not lost their courage. They say that there will be more tournaments in life. If not this time, then next time.

In fact, Mukesh Kumar and his wife Poonam had qualified for the Tokyo Paralympics to be held from August 24 to September 5 only last year. They were preparing for a long time. Both used to practice for hours in the table tennis hall of Sector-23 in the morning and evening. For concentration, he was also doing yoga late in the evening at the Yoga Center located in Sector 19. Was also working on diet, but Poonam got hurt during practice. Due to this, the pair will no longer be able to go to the Tokyo Paralympics.

Although Mukesh has played tournaments of this level, Poonam was to join for the first time. Both are disappointed by this. Now say that more tournaments will come in future. If not this time, then next time. Even before now, he has also won many national and international medals. Poonam told that during the practice, due to the weight of the shot, her left leg twisted, due to which she fell. Got checked in the hospital and got a knee fracture in X-RAY. Now for 3 weeks he has got plaster on his leg. Two weeks later, on Monday, after getting a checkup, there was another fracture in one finger. Now plaster has been applied again.

At the same time, Mukesh told that during the time when Poonam was injured, he had to deposit the papers in Delhi, but he was in the hospital with Poonam. To participate in the Paralympics, he also had a kit, which includes a playing T-shirt, but what to do with this T-shirt now.

Mukesh’s leg was damaged while saving the child’s life, Poonam had polio since childhood
Mukesh was earlier a table tennis player in the general category. While waiting for the train at the railway station to participate in a national competition, a child suddenly came on the railway track. Mukesh saved the child’s life by reaching the track, but after being hit by the train, he damaged his leg. At the same time, his wife had polio in childhood. Both did not lose courage and put all their strength in table tennis. Today he is winning medals at National and International level.

Mukesh’s 59 medals
Mukesh has managed to win many medals while playing in international competitions. He has won 14 Gold, 8 Silver and 7 Bronze medals in Nationals. Along with this, Mukesh has also won 6 gold, 10 silver and 14 bronze at the international level.

Apart from these, Mukesh was awarded the country’s highest Jeevan Raksha Medal by former President Abdul Kalam, National Award by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Red and White Bravery Award from Punjab Governor OP Verma, State Award from Haryana Government, He has also received the Environment Protector Award from the Government of Haryana and the Vivekananda Award from the Government of Haryana.

Here are Poonam’s records
Poonam has won 9 gold medals at the international level and 14 gold and 15 silver and bronze medals at the national level. She finished fourth in the Asian Games held in South Korea in 2014.