Nishad Kumar's Striking Success at the Paralympics

A visibly upset Nishad Kumar lay in the foam pit, silver medal in his grasp, yet disappointed. His participation in the men's high jump T47 final of the Paris Paralympics had resulted in his second silver medal, a clear testament of his capabilities.

The medal didn’t satisfy Nishad, who felt he had more in the reservoir. He failed to clear all three jumps at 2.08m, while the USA's Roderick Townsend, a two-time Paralympic gold medallist, secured his third consecutive gold.

Nishad’s effort, nevertheless, contributed to India’s medal count, making it the seventh of the Games. His achievement followed Preethi Pal, who won her second bronze in the women's 100m T35.

The evening was promising for Nishad, as he began with uninterrupted clearances at 1.95m and 2m, which placed him in a promising position for a medal. It seemed as though it was a standoff between him and Townsend right from the start, both in fierce competition.

The difference became evident when Townsend cleared the 2.06m aperture with ease. Nishad gave his best, attempting to cross the 2.08m mark, a mere 1cm below his personal best, but fell short.

Nishad turned to para-athletics in 2017 due to a lack of alternatives. Witnessing the 2016 Paralympics, he felt he belonged there, which led to his decision of abstaining from higher studies to focus on the sport. A young and desperate Nishad moved to Panchkula, underwent coaching under Naseem Ahmad and committed fully to the sport, attributing his future to the race track.

Amid financial struggles, Nishad's family found it very challenging to support him. The financial burden fell on his father’s shoulders, who took up extra jobs. It was a difficult year for Nishad but his efforts bore fruit when he joined the national camp ahead of the 2019 World Championships. His relocation to the SAI Centre in Patiala ensured he could concentrate solely on his sport, without worries concerning housing or nutrition.

Since then, Nishad’s career has, indeed, taken a leap. He improved his PB by 5cm and clinched a bronze at the Worlds. His success streak also includes silver medals at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics, the 2023 and 2024 World Championships, and a gold at the Para Asian Games. In 2023, he also secured a sponsorship with Adidas, signifying his noteworthy progression, from a cash-strapped athlete longing for affordable shoes to a globally recognised, Adidas-sponsored sportsman.