Murlikant Petkar: Real-Life Chandu Champion’s Disability & Paralympic Story
Directed by Kabir Khan, Chandu Champion has been making waves in theaters since its release on June 14, 2024. The film’s box office performance has been progressing steadily each day, marking its commercial success.
The film stars Kartik Aaryan as the titular character and Vijay Raaz as the coach, Tiger Ali. They are accompanied by Bhuvan Arora in the role of Jarnail Singh, and Yashpal Sharma as Uttam Singh. Other members of the supporting cast include Rajpal Yadav, Aniruddh Dave, Shreyas Talpade, Ganesh Yadav, and others.
Chandu Champion honors Murlikant Petkar’s sporting achievements and highlights his triumphant journey. The biopic depicts how Petkar overcame physical disability to achieve his dreams, eventually becoming the first Indian Paralympic athlete to win a gold medal.
This article sheds light on key incidents that provide an overview of the real-life story of Murlikant Petkar, known as Chandu Champion.
Who is the real-life Chandu Champion?
Murlikant Petkar was born on November 1, 1944, in Peth Islampur, Sangli district, Maharashtra. From a young age, he had a strong passion for sports, excelling in wrestling, athletics, and hockey. In his early years, he participated in local wrestling competitions. Notably, he defeated the village head’s son in a wrestling match, which led to backlash from the villagers. This incident likely fueled his determination and resilience.
Following this incident, Petkar joined the Indian Army as a jawan in the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME). While in the Army, he pursued boxing and earned a medal at the International Services Sports Meet in Tokyo, Japan, in 1964.
In the 1972 Summer Paralympics held in Heidelberg, Germany, Murlikant Petkar made history as the first person from India to win an individual gold medal at the Paralympics. He achieved this remarkable feat in the 50-meter freestyle swimming event, completing the race in a record-breaking 37.33 seconds.
Recalling his historic achievement, Petkar shared, “I was always confident of my abilities and gave my best in the first race itself and set a world record. The final was quite tough. Normally I am not bothered about the lane I swim and set the world record from the first lane. But for the final, I wanted the middle lanes (3rd or 4th) and I got the third. I thought it was a good omen and gave it my best shot.”
Murlikant Petkar’s Indo-Pak War incident & more
The glowing word of mouth has come into play… #ChanduChampion gets the much-needed boost on Day 3 [Sun]… The solid gains – despite #Munjya proving a tough opponent – is a big plus.#ChanduChampion enjoys the advantage of an extended weekend, since Day 4 [Mon] is a holiday…… pic.twitter.com/50vk4YqPn8
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) June 17, 2024
Following his victory in Tokyo in 1964, Murlikant Petkar’s commandant rewarded him with a visit to Jammu and Kashmir. However, it took a drastic turn in his life. During this visit, the army camp Petkar was in came under an aerial attack, and he sustained nine bullet wounds, leading to a severe disability. Reflecting on the incident, Petkar recounted, “I was out for tea in the afternoon when a whistle was blown to indicate an aerial attack. I tried to rush back to my room but firing had already started.”
Despite the severe injuries, Petkar did not give up. He spent 16 months in various hospitals, and during this period, doctors advised him to take up swimming to aid his recovery. He chose to participate in sports and competitions after healing from his injuries.
His determination paid off when he won the gold medal at the 1972 Summer Paralympics at Heidelberg. With this, Petkar emerged as a role model for countless athletes across the country. Reflecting on his journey at the 81st Raising Day, Petkar said, “One bullet still remains lodged in my spine as a reminder. I spent 16 months in various hospitals, fighting a battle for my recovery. The doctors suggested I take up swimming to help my recovery. It soon became my passion.”
The film Chandu Champion portrays the real-life struggles of handicapped individuals and has received praise from Petkar himself. In a recent talk with India TV, he said, “This is a must-watch movie. This (Chandu Champion) depicts the real struggle of handicapped people. I would like to thank the PCI president for bringing the para-athletes for this premiere as it will give them inspiration to win gold for their country.”
As of now, Chandu Champion continues to captivate audiences in theaters. Stay tuned for more updates!
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