Yogesh Kathunia defied the odds stacked against him from childhood. Born in Haryana’s Bahadurgarh in 1997, his parents pushed for a medical career. Life took a sharp turn when Guillain-Barré Syndrome gripped him at age nine, paralyzing his legs and threatening his mobility. Thanks to his mother’s dedication and physiotherapy, he regained enough strength to stand on crutches.
Sports became his calling. Inspired by para-athlete videos from Kirori Mal College’s Sachin Yadav in 2016, Yogesh dove into discus throw. His international debut was explosive: a world record 45.18m throw in the F36 category at the 2018 Berlin European Championships.
At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, representing India in F56 discus, he grabbed silver. The Arjuna Award followed from President Kovind. A 2022 diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy tested his spirit again, requiring six months of recovery.
Paris 2024 saw him repeat his silver medal feat in F56. Capping a stellar run, he won silver at the 2025 World Championships. This para-athlete’s path from paralysis to podiums inspires millions, proving that determination outshines disability.