From Greater Noida to Rio, this paralympian has come a long way!

You could have easily missed 21-year-old Varun Singh Bhati practising on the grounds around Gautam Budh Nagar. But not anymore. This Phi-3 Greater Noida resident is making headlines across India after his spectacular performance in the  men’s high jump at Rio Paralympics. He got a bronze in the T-42 category with his career-best performance of 1.86 m.

Polio had claimed Bhati’s left leg at an early age. And since then, it has been a long journey for him, from a small town of Jamalpur in Uttar Pradesh to Gautam Budh Nagar to Rio. But the long and arduous journey just left him more determined.

Bhati’s parents, along with his two siblings Kirti and Pravin, had moved to Greater Noida in search of better education. His father, who was the village sarpanch, has always motivated him to pursue anything with full dedication, be it sports or education. His mother was his bedrock of support.

India’s leading para high jumper learnt the basic rules of competition while playing with his siblings. Recalling those memories, he says, “I would always play, run, jump and compete with my siblings, and this helped boost my confidence. I felt like I could compete with normal people. It made me firmly believe in myself.”

His school, St Joseph’s School, Greater Noida, was the first to spot his talent. Bhati remained a bright student in both sports and education. Despite his disability, he developed a special interest in sports. He says, “During my initial years, I would play basketball. Later, I was introduced to a new sport, wherein I was required to jump high. Basketball practices made my transition to this new sport easy, as you needed a good jump to compete in basketball. Today, I feel high jumps, somehow, come naturally to me.” He eventually became one of the best athletes of the school.

Under the guidance and training of former national athlete Satyanarayana, Bhati soon became a force to be reckoned with on the international circuit. “Training under the right coach is important for any player. I am thankful that I met my coach at the right time. In him, I have both a strict coach and a good friend. I follow a tight workout regime such as weight training and plyometric every day, and it really helps my body gain the strength required for the sport,” explains Bhati. The only part of the training that Bhati dislikes is running. But he clearly understands that running is essential for him and the sport.

Bhati knows that to do well internationally, it is important to both keep patience and, at the same time, perseverence. Speaking of his earlier performances, he says, “I was patient after losing at the Asian Games 2014 and finishing fifth at the Para World Championships in Doha last year. I knew I had to boost my morale and prepare for the next challenge.”

There’s one thing that Bhati regrets, though — lack of sports facilities in Noida. Though most of his early days were spent practising in Gautam Budh Nagar, he feels the city needs to spruce up its sports infrastructure. Voicing his disappointment, he says, “Noida has high-end luxury apartments, a massive golf course, an F1 track, but, unfortunately, it lacks a good stadium for athletes, with the necessary equipment and a high-end Mondo track.”

From a local sports face to an international youth icon, this humble GreNo boy has become a beacon of hope to many like him. And, with age on his side, we hope he can continue to move north in his career, with more medals and newer records.