Gurgaon: Two months before the Asian Para Games in Japan’s Aichi-Nagoya, Rinku Hooda lost his mother, Saroj Devi, to breast cancer. The grief was so overwhelming that the para-athlete stopped training for a month and considered quitting sports altogether. But the memory of the woman who had always stood by him guided him back to the field.Rinku’s comeback culminated in a gold medal in the men’s F46 javelin throw Monday, with a throw of 65.11m.The 27-year-old, who hails from Bhamar village in Haryana’s Rohtak district, has spent much of his life overcoming obstacles. His father, Rohtas, told TOI that at just three years old, he lost his left arm in an accident involving a tractor-mounted paddy-winnowing machine.His farming family, which owns around 18 acres of land, worried about how he would earn a living. “We thought he could no longer chase bigger dreams. We contemplated setting him up with a small shop. We wanted him to be financially independent,” Rohtas said.But Rinku had other plans. He would challenge other children to stone-throwing contests at the village pond. He played cricket, often taking on the role of wicketkeeper. His childhood games gradually revealed an extraordinary natural strength and competitive spirit. “My son was always interested in sports, and he would test himself in every field,” said Rohtas.His journey found direction when a village youth, Jitendra, took him to a sports meet in Chandigarh. Encouraged by his performance, Rinku began exploring para-sports.Uncle Vajir Singh said he would wake up at 4am and walk 17km to the stadium in Rohtak. “Transport was rarely available. Occasionally, villagers heading his way would stop and offer him a lift,” Vajir said.Through everything, his mother remained one of his strongest sources of encouragement, supporting every ambition. When Saroj Devi died, so did Rinku’s drive to succeed. But gradually, his father, brother Anuj — who is also his coach — and uncle persuaded him to return to training.As he won the F46 javelin gold, his family — and the entire village of Bhamar — erupted in celebration. For Rinku, however, the victory meant far more than a place on the Asian Para Games podium. He held up Saroj Devi’s photograph. “Mummy, your son has brought honour to your name,” he said.
