The podcast with double Paralympics silver medallist and discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya was recorded during the RevSportz Trailblazers Conclave 3.0, with the aim of unveiling the backstage stories of the making of an elite athlete.
We’ve covered Yogesh at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023, and since then he has been a friend of the RevSportz family. The Paralympics star, on multiple occasions, featured on the platform. However, the focus then was different; be it the preparations for a particular event, or trying to analyse a certain performance.
This freewheeling chat tries to understand the person that Yogesh Kathuniya is, rather than the athlete. On National Sports Day 2025, here’s his story, in a different flavour.
The gap between silver and gold
“I’ve learnt to focus on the process rather than on the goal,” said Yogesh. “With time, I’ve realised that the process is more important than just chasing the goal. I emphasise on training, physiotherapy, nutrition, recovery, and try to maintain the balance.”
“I don’t dream. A dream is something which you see while sleeping. I aim, and work towards it,” he added.
Giving back to the sport
Apart from being an athlete himself, he runs an academy, from where several athletes have made it to the national and international levels. “I started it as a Non Profit Organisation, and I still run it like that. I don’t gain anything in monetary terms from it but it’s much more than that. The profit is measured in the success that the athletes gain from it,” mentioned Yogesh.
“If you remember Pushpendra (Yadav), who won bronze at the Asian Para Games, started his journey from my academy,” he continued. “There was a time Pushpendra wanted to give up sport because of financial constraints and I tried according to my abilities to help him. Today, perhaps, he’s the only one who openly acknowledges that (laughs).”
Backstage and video games
Starting with a laugh, Yogesh spoke about his gamer’s group. “Yes, I have a huge affection towards mobile and computer games. Apex Legends, in PUBG’s time PUBG, however, (it is now) banned in India. I do a lot of gaming.”
“There are some other professional athletes as well in the community, and we do some serious gaming,” he laughed. “It’s a stress buster for me and a way to keep myself mentally fit. A time away from the rigorous daily physical training.”
The conversation also opens up on his preparations for the upcoming Para World Championship and more, to be aired on all RevSportz platforms at 7 pm today.
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