Bharat Kumar, the World Champion para-swimmer, with 50 medals, forced to wash cars!

New Delhi, Jan 28: Bharat Kumar was born with a right hand by birth, but his physical disability never dissuade him from pursuing his dreams.

Born on Dec 10, 1989, Bharat Kumar, a world champion, has made Bharat (India) proud by winning over 50 medals in para- swimming contest.

But if we scratch the silver lining, then his life is full of heart-wrenching hurdles. Even after achieving the feat and turning odds in his favour, poor Bharat's contribution in making India proud has been sadly ignored.

Today, he is forced to wash cars to make his both ends meet and situation has come to the point that he may have to sell his hard-won medals to earn money.

Like Cricket star Virender Sehwag and national level wrestler Sushil Kumar, Bharat is also a native of Haryana (a state that has given many sports-persons to this nation) and lives in south-west Delhi's Najafagrh area, in a small house.

His old parents are daily-wage labourers, who dig soil. He has three younger brothers to take care of and his two sisters are married.

Bharat, who was born and brought up in a poverty-stricken family learnt swimming by holding the tail of buffalo! Swimming became his passion in 2002 and formally started practicing in 2004 at Delhi Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

He says that at least Rs 20,000-Rs 25,000 are required per month to take proper training and nutrition requirements. But he has no-one to sponsor for his training.

27-year-old Bharat and his family have ran from pillar to post to the concerned authorities and to Delhi government, but their repeated pleas fell on deaf ears.

As part of mementos, his medals and his photographs with former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, MDH owner Mahashay Dharampal Gulati, and other bigwigs are decoarted on the walls of his room.

Shattered Bharat claims that he is still optimistic about receiving some financial assistance from the government, but at the same time he admits that his patience has been tested enough. He is also pursuing his graduation from Delhi University.

His struggling life is an inspiring tale that proves that with determination, nothing is impossible.

Bharat is forced to wash cars due to poverty & he may have to sell his medals.

He is a star, whose shine has got a rust, due to our so-called system's intensiveness towards approaching with physically-disabled sports-persons. He has won two international titles, one silver at the IWAS World Junior Athletics Championships in Ireland and one gold medal and over 40 national level medals.

Young Bharat has flown to countries like England, Ireland, Holland, Malaysia and China to participate in swimming contests.

Bharat's next goal is to take part in upcoming Asian Games and next Olympics, to make his country feel proud. But what this country is doing to make this brave son achieve his dream?

While talking to a news channel, Bharat said that he has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he personally wants to meet him, to get help in buying required equipment and to take part in upcoming international competitions.

He has described himself on Twitter as an international para (दिव्यांग) swimmer, international medal winner, working as a car washer and losing my sports bcz of lack of money. (sic)

If you want to extend your helping hand towards Bharat, then he can be contacted on 09891285679.

Here are the bank account details of Bharat Kumar, sent by him to OneIndia:

SBI a/c no: 30394882159

Branch Name: Najafgarh, ADB, New Delhi- 110043

Branch Code: 01419

IFSC Code: SBIN0001419

So, please come forward and let him help in bringing more laurels to our country!

@narendramodi namaste sir i m an international divyaang khiladi, working as a car cleaner need ur help sir pic.twitter.com/ndxm2Fykig

— Bharat kumar (@Bharatk62416283) January 13, 2016

i m an international khiladi, losing my game bcz lack of money, my medals r about to sell @iamsrk @abpnewstv @ndtv pic.twitter.com/QjG2SR4dBK

— Bharat kumar (@Bharatk62416283) January 13, 2016

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