Yogesh Kathuniya

Yogesh Kathuniya is an inspiring Indian Paralympic athlete specializing in the discus throw. He made headlines when he represented India at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, securing a silver medal in the men's discus throw F56 event. His early life took a challenging turn when, at the age of nine, he developed Guillain-Barré syndrome, a condition that causes severe muscle weakness. Despite this setback, his mother learned physiotherapy and diligently helped him regain his muscle strength. By the age of twelve, Yogesh had regained the ability to walk, thanks to his mother's relentless efforts.

He attended the Indian Army Public School in Chandigarh, where his father was stationed at Chandimandir Cantonment. It was during his college years that he was introduced to para-sports by Sachin Yadav, the General Secretary of the students' union, who motivated him by regularly showing him videos of para-athletes.

In 2018, he set a world record in the F36 category by throwing the discus an impressive 45.18 meters at the World Para Athletics European Championships in Berlin. This achievement marked him as a formidable contender in the international para-athletics scene.

At the 2020 Summer Paralympics, Yogesh's exceptional performance in the men's discus throw F56 event earned him a silver medal.