The past week has been a landmark one for Indian sports. Not because the men’s cricket team won a Test match in Birmingham — which, in itself, was actually unprecedented — but because 15,000 fans turned up in Bengaluru’s Sree Kanteerava Stadium, where — again, not that Bengaluru FC were playing in the Indian Super League final — but for a singular athletic meet. To catch a glimpse of arguably the nation’s most decorated athlete of this century — Neeraj Chopra.
Among the many watching the Haryana-born javelin thrower with keen interest was his fellow sport-mate, state-mate, and Olympic gold medallist, Sumit Antil. In a couple months from now — from 27 September, to be precise — the national capital, Delhi, will host the World Para Athletics Championships.
It will be the biggest para-athletic event India has ever staged, with athletes from over 100 nations set to compete. Like Chopra, Antil has also ‘completed’ javelin, so to speak. He has won the Olympic gold medal twice — in Paris last year, and before that, in 2020 Tokyo. He has also won three World Championships medals, two of them being gold, alongside an Asian Games Para gold.
What he now wishes to do is, much like his friend, make the nation proud on its soil, with fans cheering for him.
Ahead of what promises to be a defining moment for Indian para-sport, The Quint caught up with Sumit Antil for a wide-ranging conversation, in an interview facilitated by Sun Pharmaceuticals.
How has life been treating you, Sumit?
Life has been good ever since I won a gold at Tokyo Paralympics. First of all, I became financially stable, which is a big thing, especially for someone from the younger generation. Once that happened, I could completely focus on my sport without worrying about anything else. When I won a medal at such a big event and people began to recognise me, saw me as an inspiration — it felt like I had truly achieved something in life. I felt proud of myself. It gave me motivation for the upcoming tournaments. Now, everyone is placing their trust in me, and I feel that responsibility. I have to do even better.
Tell us about your childhood — where you grew up, your early dreams, and the influences that shaped you before sports entered your life.
I was born in Khewda village. Most people know Sonipat for wrestling — and I had two dreams growing up. One was to become a wrestler. When I was small, Yogeshwar Dutt once came to my school as the chief guest. I was so inspired seeing him — the way people respected him. I remember thinking, I want to sit on that same stage one day. That’s where my motivation for wrestling began. The area I come from has produced some of the best wrestlers in India. Since childhood, I trained in wrestling — for about 7–8 years — before the accident. My father was in the Air Force. I come from a defence background — my father, uncle, grandfather — all served in the Air Force. So I always wanted to serve my country. I may not have been 100% sure about becoming a wrestler, but I was absolutely certain that I wanted to join the armed forces and serve the nation. That was my childhood dream.
After the accident, how did you find the strength to rebuild your life — and what led you to discover para-sports?
I had two dreams, and both were destroyed after the accident. It takes time to recover, both physically and mentally. But with time, some things begin to heal. I consider myself very blessed to have had such supportive friends and family around me. I was treated at a base hospital in Delhi — a disciplined Army hospital, where everyone is expected to conduct themselves with discipline, no matter the situation. I learned a lot there. No one shows sympathy — and that actually helped me recover faster. Later, I took admission in Delhi University’s Ramjas College. That’s when I decided I would study sports and get a good job. I had made up my mind — I was going to live my life fully. It wasn’t such a big deal anymore because my family stood by me throughout. In 2017, I heard about para-sports for the first time. But soon I realized — I couldn’t continue with studies or do a regular 9-to-5 job. So when I got to know more about para-sports, I took a big decision — I decided to focus fully on it. That’s when my journey in sports began. But I didn’t stop studying either.
You’ve spoken about how difficult those early days after the accident were. What helped you hold on to hope?
When the accident happened, my life was filled with negativity. I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t know what to do.
My family would say, 'You are our only son — your life has been ruined.' And honestly, I didn’t know where to go from there.
But when I look back now at everything I’ve achieved, I still remember a conversation I had with my mom after the accident. We were talking about the future. I told her I felt motivated by the doctors around me at that time. I told her, 'I’m not alone.'
I was very motivated. I told my mom that I would do something no one had ever done before. I clearly remember saying, 'I will try to achieve something big.'
Even now, my mom tells me the same thing — that I have to keep doing something meaningful. She says, 'You can still do something for the country. You don’t need to be in the Army to serve India.'
We are still serving our country. When we win a medal and stand on the podium while the national anthem plays, it’s a completely different feeling. When you have 'India' written across your chest — it’s a moment of immense pride. As Indian athletes, that’s how we feel: like we’re making the country proud in our own way.
How have you seen the para-sports landscape evolve in India since you began?
After 2016, there was a real Paralympic revolution in India. Devendra Jhajharia and Deepa Malik went on to win more medals — and after that, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his support to the Paralympic movement.
Equal opportunities and better facilities were provided, which was a big step by the government in taking para-sports forward. I believe real change takes time, but when I look back at where para-sports were when I started and where they are today, the recognition and respect have grown significantly.
I hope that one day, para-sports and able-bodied sports receive equal recognition. A lot of positive changes have taken place since I began. And if our athletes keep performing the way they have been, I’m confident that day will come.
You’ve had some incredible highs in your career — which moments stand out as the most special to you, and why?
I have two achievements that are the most special to me. One is the Tokyo Paralympics gold medal — which I won for the third time in a row. That was a truly special moment because, honestly, I didn’t fully understand what it meant to become an icon.
When I received the medal, I knew I had won gold. But I didn’t grasp the magnitude of the achievement until I returned to India and met the Chief Minister. That’s when it really hit me — it was something huge.
The other is my Asian Games medal, where I set a world record with a throw of 73.29 metres. It was the longest throw in Paralympic history across all categories. No one else had thrown that far.
So, these two medals — Tokyo and the Asian Games — are closest to my heart.
What’s next on your calendar, and how are you preparing for it, especially with the World Championships being held at home?
My current ranking is World No. 1. I’ve taken a week off because I’ve been training continuously for a long time. I now have three months before the World Championships, which will be held in Delhi, India.
It’s a big deal for me — getting the chance to perform in front of my home crowd. But right now, my only focus is on preparation. That’s my main goal: to be ready to compete at my best.
You and Neeraj Chopra seem to share a special bond. What’s your relationship like, and how has he influenced your journey in para-athletics?
Neeraj and I share a close relationship. Before every major competition, I talk to him and take his advice. Even ahead of the Paralympics, he guided me a lot.
In Geneva, he really encouraged me to participate in the event — it was a big one, and I truly enjoyed competing there.
Mostly, our conversations are about sports — about our targets and how we can keep motivating each other. That’s what defines our bond.
Was there ever a moment when people's doubts made you more determined?
When I went to Italy for the first time in 2019, I set a world record. There was a foreign journalist there who asked me what my next target was. I had just thrown 60.45 meters to set that world record.
I told him that my next goal was to reach 70 meters. He laughed and said that was a ridiculous thing to aim for. That moment made me feel like everyone was underestimating me.
But when I eventually achieved that goal, I realized I can do anything I set my mind to. I work hard and try to make my country proud. And whenever people underestimate me — that’s when I perform even better.
When you look back at your journey — from wanting to be a wrestler to becoming a global inspiration — what does it mean to you to now be a role model for others facing similar challenges?
When I think about it — from wanting to be a wrestler, dreaming of joining the army, to now being a double Paralympic champion and a world record holder — I truly feel that maybe God sent me here for a reason. There are many wrestlers in India, many who serve in the defence forces. But when I had my accident, there wasn’t really an icon in India — someone who was an amputee and still had such achievements.
Now, when I receive messages saying, ‘I watched your videos,’ or ‘I see how you work out, and it gives me motivation,’ or ‘One day, I want to be a good athlete like you’ — I feel that’s the biggest achievement.
I’ve been through that phase — after the accident, when you feel like maybe it would’ve been better if it had never happened. You don’t always say it aloud, but that thought is there.
But now, to be someone who unknowingly plays a role in another person’s life, someone who gives them courage when they need it most — that, to me, is a huge achievement."
You’ve described your accident as a second birth. Looking back, what role did doctors play in your recovery, and why was it important for you to be involved in Sun Pharma's initiative?
I would say that the day I had my accident was like my second birth. It marked the beginning of a completely new journey — a journey from where I was to where I am now. That day, for me, is like my real birthday.
When my team came to know that Sun Pharma is running an initiative called Thank You Doctors, I personally felt something very strongly. In many of my past interviews, or while speaking on stage, I’ve thanked a lot of people. But somehow, I always ended up missing out on mentioning the doctors.
When we talk about our journey, we often forget to thank the doctors — and that shouldn’t happen. This initiative is a beautiful way to acknowledge the people who helped us stand again after an accident. It gave us a lot of motivation.
Personally, I had wanted to become a wrestler — and now I’m a para-athlete. And the doctors made that possible. They helped me stand again. They motivated me. Even when I was in the base hospital, the way they cared for me meant a lot. So, I truly want to thank them and support this initiative in any way I can.
(Sun Pharma’s #SecondBirthDate is an initiative that celebrates and honours the invaluable contributions of doctors in our lives. Launched on National Doctors’ Day (July 1). This year, Sumit Antil, Para-athelete — Padma Shri & Khel Ratna awardee, five-time gold medallist and current world record holder — has joined Sun Pharma’s #SecondBirthDate initiative.)