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Murlikant Petkar is India's first Paralympic gold medalist. He won an individual gold medal in the 1972 Summer Paralympics, in Heidelberg, Germany. He set a world record in the 50 m freestyle swimming event, at 37.33 seconds. In the same games he participated in javelin, precision javelin throw and slalom^{[contradictory]}. He was a finalist in all three events.[1] In 2018, he was awarded with the Padma Shri.[2]

Murlikant Rajaram Petkar

Petkar in 2019
Personal information
Nationality	Indian
Sport
Country	India
Sport	Swimming, javelin, slalom, table tennis, shot put
Disability	Yes
Rank	Craftsman
Medal record Freestyle swimming Representing  India Paralympic Games 1972 Heidelberg 50 m freestyle swimming

Biography

He was private or jawan of the craftsman rank in the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) in the Indian Army.[3] He was disabled during the 1965 war against Pakistan, sustaining severe bullet wounds.[4] Petkar was originally a boxer at EME, Secunderabad. After he was crippled he switched to swimming and other sports.[5] He participated in table tennis at the 1968 Summer Paralympics and cleared the first round. He won four medals in swimming. He was later employed by TELCO in Pune.[6]

See also

• India at the Paralympics
• India at the 1968 Summer Paralympics
• India at the 1972 Summer Paralympics

References

External links

• Petkar in EME

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