Click to play videoNew Delhi: It is World Polio Day today, and what could be a better day than today to celebrate the achievements of the victims of this crippling disease.
Naresh Sharma, a polio victim is an Olympic shooter who has been making the country proud for more than 10 years now despite his disease.
For those of you unfamiliar with Naresh, he has been a national and international shooting champion for 15 years now.
He's also had polio for 36 years. A condition he has to live with, due to a gross medical error.
Naresh acquired polio due to wrong vaccination at Safdarjung Hospital
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 found it difficult to shoot, how could a disabled do it,” recalls Naresh.
Today he has proved all of them wrong. Winner of more than 50 international medals, Naresh was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1997.
In the 2008 Beijing paralympics, he 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.
A member of Swabhiman group Nymphia Vishin says, “Many stories like his on our blog spot inspires people and creates awareness.”
Naresh has already cocked his rifle for the National Shooting Championship in December and the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
As he himself says, no matter the handicap, he will continue taking shots at greater fame and glory.
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