Devendra Jhajharia is an Indian Paralympic javelin thrower from Rajasthan, widely regarded as one of India's most successful Paralympic athletes. Competing in the F46 classification (for athletes with upper limb impairments), he has won multiple medals at the Summer Paralympic Games and held world records in his event. He is among the most decorated Indian para-athletes and has been honoured with several of India's highest sporting and civilian awards.
| Full name | Devendra Jhajharia |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 10 June 1981 |
| Place of birth | Churu district, Rajasthan, India |
| Sport | Athletics (javelin throw) |
| Classification | F46 (upper limb impairment) |
| Major events | Paralympic Games, IPC/World Para Athletics Championships, Asian Para Games |
| Notable honours | Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award |
Devendra Jhajharia was born on 10 June 1981 in a village in Churu district, Rajasthan. At the age of around eight, he suffered a serious accident when he came into contact with a live electric wire while climbing a tree, which resulted in the amputation of his left hand. He took up javelin throw during his school years and was eventually identified by coaches who guided him into competitive para-athletics.
Jhajharia first came to wide national attention at the 2004 Summer Paralympic Games in Athens, where he won a gold medal in the men's javelin throw F44/46 event with a world-record throw. This made him one of the early Indian athletes to win Paralympic gold in athletics.
At the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Jhajharia won a second Paralympic gold in the F46 javelin event, again bettering his own world record. With this victory, he became the first Indian Paralympian to win two gold medals at the Paralympic Games.
At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games (held in 2021), Jhajharia competed in the F46 javelin throw and won a silver medal, taking his Paralympic medal tally to three. The event saw a strong Indian performance, with Sundar Singh Gurjar also finishing on the podium.
Beyond the Paralympics, Jhajharia has represented India at the IPC/World Para Athletics Championships and Asian Para Games, winning medals across multiple editions. He has been associated with Sports Authority of India training programmes and has trained under coaches including R. D. Singh.
After his competitive successes, Jhajharia took on a leadership role in Indian para-sports administration and was elected President of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), succeeding Deepa Malik. In this capacity he has been associated with the development of para-athletics infrastructure, athlete welfare, and selection processes for international competitions.
Jhajharia's career marks a turning point in the visibility and recognition of para-sports in India. His repeated medal-winning performances, world records in the F46 javelin, and his elevation to top national honours such as the Khel Ratna and Padma Bhushan have helped mainstream Paralympic sport in the country. He is frequently cited as a role model for athletes with disabilities and has contributed to greater institutional support for para-athletics in India.