Yogesh Kathuniya has made a name for himself as a discus thrower in the world of para-athletics. Set to compete in the men's F56 discus throw event at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Yogesh’s journey has been one of extraordinary resilience.

At the age of nine, he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that left him wheelchair-bound for two years. His mother, Meena, stepped in to help by learning physiotherapy, which enabled Yogesh to start walking again by the age of 12.

Yogesh's father, Gyanchand Kathuniya, a retired army officer from Chandimandir Cantonment in Haryana, has been a strong pillar of support throughout his journey.

Yogesh's determination and hard work bore fruit when he won a silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021 in the men's F56 discus throw. Since then, he has continued to excel, winning silver medals at the World Para Athletics Championships in 2023 and 2024, as well as at the Asian Para Games last year.

In an exclusive interview with myKhel, Yogesh expressed his desire to improve his performance and change the color of his medals. “I need to break this streak of silver because I’ve won silver in the last four competitions, and I’m not satisfied with my performance. Everything was going well, but then I got injured. Now, I’m giving my 100%, and I will try to change the color of the medal at the Paris Paralympics," he said.

Reflecting on his preparations, Yogesh added, "I’ve only competed in one event this year because I was focusing on mental preparation. Yes, I’ve only participated in one competition this year, but I have eight years of experience, and I know how to handle these situations."

With a goal of changing the color of his medal in mind, Yogesh Kathuniya is determined to break his silver streak and set a new standard in discus throw at the Paris Paralympics.