Click to play videoNew Delhi: Naresh Sharma defeated his handicap to become an international shooting champion.
Sharma has been a national and international shooting champion for 15 years. He was afflicted by polio 36 years back due to a gross medical error.
"I got polio due to wrong vaccination. It happened at Safdurjung Hospital," says Sharma.
Despite his handicap, Naresh ventured into the shooting arena in 1994. But that was the era when no federation or rules had been laid down for the disabled and Naresh had to face his share of humiliation.
"People laughed at me. They said when able-bodied find it difficult to shoot how can disabled do it," he says.
Today he has proved all of them wrong.
Winner of more than 50 international medals, Naresh was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1997.
That was the year when he was pitted him against heavyweight Sachin Tendulkar.
In the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, Naresh captured the fifth position among 40 shooters from around the world.
Naresh is also an active member with the Swabhiman Group for polio patients where people like him contribute to the lives of similarly challenged people.
"There are many stories like him on our blogspot. It inspires people and creates awareness," says Swabhiman member Nymphia Vishin.
As Sharma himself says, no matter the handicap, he will continue taking shots at greater fame and glory.
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