Crossing The Barriers: The Paralympic Legends of India

By Abhishek Dubey with Mahavir Rawat

This book is the first attempt of its kind to chronicle the remarkable real-life stories of India’s Paralympic heroes and provide a unique perspective on the Indian Paralympic Movement. Its purpose is to inspire both sports enthusiasts and those less familiar with the world of sports.

The main objective behind weaving the diverse and different stories of India’s Paralympic legends is to let their resilience, determination and enthusiasm for the sport inspire us all. Delving deeper into their lives helps us become more aware of the unique challenges in our personal and professional lives. The compelling life lessons from each of their stories will help us navigate through the toughest crises and challenges.

Through in-depth research, interviews, and firsthand accounts, the book features the extraordinary journeys of 23 Paralympic medal winners such as Murlikant Petkar, Joginder Singh Bedi, Devendra Jhajharia, Suhas L.Y., Deepa Malik, and Avani Lekhara, among others. Their stories carry a powerful mantra for all of us: “Whatever the situation, we can take control of our lives and leave a lasting impact where it matters”. This mantra sums up the essence of their achievements.

The underlying message of the book is that if these champions can triumph over adversity, so can we.

ABHISHEK DUBEY, one of India’s leading sports journalists and broadcast professionals, has covered national and international sports for over 25 years. With extensive experience in organisations like NDTV and CNN-News18 (formerly IBN-7 and CNN-IBN), he has authored several books that reveal intriguing stories from the realm of sports and athletes. His earlier works include the critically acclaimed Dressing Room: The Inside Story, The IPL Story: Cricket, Glamour and Big Money and She Dared: Women in Indian Sports. He is currently serving as Channel Manager at Prasar Bharati Sports and was honoured with was honoured with the prestigious Media Awards in 2022 for his contributions to the field of sports.

MAHAVIR RAWAT, a former sports journalist and now an anchor, commentator and author, has embarked on a new chapter in his career by focusing on the lives of Paralympic athletes. Leveraging his experience from NDTV, he masterfully weaves captivating stories in this book that highlights the indomitable spirit of these athletes. He throws light on their extraordinary journeys, unveiling their triumphs and struggles, with the aim of inspiring and educating the readers about the importance of inclusivity in sports.

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Binding: Paperback

Publication Date: April 2024