He Lost His Hand at 4. Now, This Bengaluru Techie Wants to Represent India at 2020 Paralympics

When he was only four years old, Divij Shah lost his right hand. But this techie never lost heart. Today, he works as an app developer for a Bangalore-based firm and also happens to be a cyclist who has won laurels internationally.

After all, he just brought home the Silver medal for India at the recently concluded Asian Para-Cycling Championship (Time Trial Road Race category) in Bahrain and has his eye now set on 2020 Summer Paralympics in Japan.

Photo source: Facebook

Divij only began to start cycling about a year ago because he wanted to commute the often-congested roads of Bengaluru without much hassle. But soon, the hobby became a passion for the 25-year-old, who is originally from West Bengal. And now it has become an integral part of his life.

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Speaking to the Times of India, he notes that he prefers cycling to working out at the gym because it isn’t monotonous at all and it takes his passion to great heights. Literally. He says, “I have cycled from Manali to Khardung La over 10 days with a single-day gap. I rode along with 30 others. I have participated in a 500 km tour in Karnataka for three days. Besides, I go for 200 km-300 km tours.”

Currently, he is associated with the Aditya Mehta Foundation that provides aid and support to athletes with disabilities, but he is also looking to find sponsors so he can progress further along in his sport. For now, he is training for one of the most grueling races organised in India, called the Tour of Nilgiris, which is slated to be conducted in 2018. And, of course, he is determined for glory at the Paralympics in 2020.

The Aditya Mehta Foundation can be contacted here

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