Member-only story
Do You Know the Real Person Behind Chandu Champion?
Kartik Aryan is the reel hero.
Yesterday, I was celebrating my small milestone achievement. I decided to watch Chandu Champion with my family. This movie pushed me to explore more about the real person behind Chandu Champion.
I was impressed with the acting of Kartik Aryan portraying the real champion. “Chandu Champion “ was a masterpiece that took me on a journey of resilience, hope and triumph. This movie was a blend of compelling storytelling and breathtaking visuals. But the actual person behind this story is a war veteran.
He was none other than Murlikant Petkar. He was born in Pune, in 1947. As a child, he loved sports like everyone. He was especially good at boxing. At the age of 17, he joined the Indian Army where he got trained and became a skilled boxer.
In 1965, a war broke out between India and Pakistan. Petkar served as a soldier. He was badly injured when his train was attacked which led him to become paraplegic. While recovering in the hospital, he lost his hope to walk. But he didn't give up. He found a new love for swimming that gave him a new hope to restart.
His friends and coaches encouraged him daily to compete again. He went to Heidelberg, Germany in 1972 where he represented India in the Paralympics. He was…
