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'Not just the Teacher's Day gift, he has given me all the gifts (that one can) today. Not just him, but Pranav (Soorma) too, because when I had started club throw in India, no one knew what it was.'
He may have finished last in the men's club throw F51 event at the Paralympics but for Amit Kumar Saroha, who coaches gold-medallist Dharambir, the success of younger generation feels like a mission accomplished with Pranav Soorma clinching the silver.
India's medal tally swelled to 24 on Wednesday when Dharambir and Soorma sealed the top-two finish but Amit finished last in the same event. He was nonetheless elated that the squad would be returning with the gold medal.
"I won't say it was hard luck (for me)," the 39-year-old said after the event.
"Yes, my event did not go well. I was looking at Dharambir and he had first four throws as fouls. I was getting very anxious that the event is going worse and the same situation happened to me," he added.
Amit explained the complexity of the discipline, saying there are many factors which have to work together for one to succeed.
"The disability that we have is very severe -- our fingers do not work and we have to stick the club with glue. But it became so sticky due to the cold weather that it was just not gripping. The skin on my fingers were ripped off in the process because of the stickiness," he explained.
But Amit said there was no disappointment for him to have missed on winning a medal in his fourth attempt.
"But having said that, the dream that I had, it has come to life. Ever since I began participating in sports, it was my dream to win a medal in Paralympic Games and this is my fourth event -- you know I am the most senior athlete in the team -- so what if I was not able to win it, my student did it," he said.
Asked if Dharambir's gold was an early Teacher's Day gift, Amit said it was more than anything he could wish for.
"We are going back with a gold medal and there cannot be a greater gurudakshina (a gift to a teacher) that we were together, we were competing against each other and he won the gold," he said.
"Not just the Teacher's Day gift, he has given me all the gifts (that one can) today. Not just him, but Pranav (Soorma) too, because when I had started club throw in India, no one knew what it was," Amit added.
'Making a start is difficult for everyone but somewhere I started and today, the result is in front (of us).'
Amit said like many other athletes across arenas, he too had naysayers when he forayed into club throw as a para athlete after a car accident at the age of 22 left him a quadriplegic.
It is a condition that severely limits mobility in arms and legs, partially or even completely, due to a spinal cord injury.
Amit said no one in the country, including the federation, knew about the discipline when he began.
"There was a time when people said we won't be able to compete. 'No one from India has competed with this disability so how can you?' Who will be responsible if something happens to you?'”
"They just did not know because there wasn't any athlete in this discipline in India before. I won't blame them. Making a start is difficult for everyone but somewhere I started and today, the result is in front (of us)," he added.
Amit said he feels his mission has been accomplished.
"We had a clean sweep (of medals) in the Asian Games, today we have two Paralympic medals — gold and silver — so I think the work I had put in, it has come to an end today," he said.
"The next generation has taken over. I have ruled this event like a king for 12 years, I held two Asian records for that period and if my own kids (students) are breaking them, it cannot get better than this," Amit added.
Dharambir dedicates medal to Saroha, hopes to inspires next generation
Paralympics gold medallist in men's club throw F51 event Dharambir has dedicated his medal to teammate and coach Amit Kumar Saroha, hoping that his feat inspires the next generation of para athletes to take the legacy forward.
The 35-year-old Dharambir on Wednesday broke the Asian record with a throw of 34.92m en route to the gold medal at the Paralympics with Pranav Soorma clinching the silver with a throw of 34.59m.
Saroha, however, failed to make it to the podium finishing last in the event.
"I am feeling very proud. For any athlete, winning a medal at the Olympics (Paralympics) is a dream and my dream has come true with this. My guide Amit Kumar Saroha has played a big role in it," Dharambir said.
"We came into the sport after getting to know about him (Amit Saroha), I hope the next generation (of athletes) will see us and get into this sport," he added.
Dharambir, who has taken guidance from the 39-year-old Amit, dedicated the award to the veteran sportsperson.
"I dedicate this award to my guru Amit Saroha. His blessings are with me since the start and that is why I was able to win this medal," he said.
Dharambir suffered a serious injury when he misjudged a dive into a canal and was left paralysed from waist down after he hit the rocks. In 2014, he found his way into para games and trained in club throw with Amit.
While he will return home as one of India's gold medallists at the Paralympics, Dharambir was in for trouble when he fouled the first four throws.
Under pressure, Dharambir look towards Amit, who gave him an assuring look and things fell in place for him.
"Our category is the lowest. The fingers don't work, so we have to stick (the club with glue) and throw. At the start I made a few fouls because the gum (glue) had not set in," he said.
"Pressure is also a major factor and when you commit fouls, the mind stops working. I made eye contact with my coach and the fifth throw came out well.
"I am feeling very proud that the Asian record has also come with this medal. Pranav Soorma had beaten the record previously and now I hold it. He is a very good athlete and our fight will continue like this," Dharambhir added.