Page 9 - BPCL Magazine_Vol 2_Issue 2_April May June_2025

COVER STORY

challenged athlete in the oil sector silenced in one spectacular moment A Missed Meeting and a
to achieve this. “BPCL gave me equal of triumph.
Message of Grace
footing—literally and figuratively,”
The Letter That Touched the In 2023, Joby qualified for the Asian
he said. The company became a
critical part of his journey, offering Nation Games in China, for para powerlifting.
But a technical glitch rendered his
sponsorship, respect, and a platform Despite countless achievements,
accreditation invalid, forcing him into
to shine. Since then, Joby has gone Joby was repeatedly overlooked
isolation in China and barring him
on to win 29 world medals. He’s also for the Arjuna Award and Padma
from competing. To make matters
received the Best Employee Award in awards, often falling just short due
worse, when the Indian team returned,
2014 and the Energizing Lives Award to technicalities. But what national
Joby was pulled back just 300 metres
from the Chairman. awards didn’t recognize, the Prime
before meeting the Prime Minister
Minister of India did. After winning
The Moment That Made along with other athletes. “I was
gold in para powerlifting at the Khelo
History India Games, lifting 148 kg, Joby wrote heartbroken. But I didn’t complain. I
didn’t go to the media,” Joby said. “I
When asked about the moment that a heartfelt letter to Prime Minister
still trust the system. And I believed
changed his life, Joby recalls 2008, Narendra Modi, sharing his 30-year
my time would come.” It did. And the
when he competed in the World Arm journey—a path marked by daily
recognition he received in Mann Ki
Wrestling Championship in Spain— physical struggle, intense training,
Baat was not just a consolation—it
against able-bodied athletes—and and unmatched dedication. He wrote
was a celebration of everything he
won the gold medal in the left-hand not for reward, but in gratitude for how
stands for.
55 kg category. “No Indian para- the government had transformed the
athlete had ever done this. They para-sports landscape. He described A Message to Future Athletes
told me I wasn’t eligible, that I didn’t waking up at 4 a.m., crawling 5
To aspiring athletes, especially
belong. That I couldn’t beat them kilometres just to reach his bus stop,
those facing physical or societal
without legs. But I did!” Joby said crossing rivers, and facing rejections
challenges, Joby sends out a clear
triumphantly. This was not from schools that called him “unfit”.
message: “Disability is not a limitation.
just a stellar victory; it was To his complete surprise,
It’s a different kind of strength. With
a lifetime of
focus, and belief in yourself, you can
rejection
PM Narendra Modi read out Joby’s redefine what’s possible. If you can
story on national radio during his channel it with focus and discipline,
“Mann Ki Baat” address, calling you can do anything—and I mean
him a national role model. “I anything.”
was stunned,” Joby said. “In that
moment, everything made sense. Joby Mathew’s Next Goal:
Thirty years of pain felt worth it. It
was the biggest honour of my life.” GOLD AT LOS ANGELES 2028
His eyes are now set on the 2028
The impact was immediate—calls, Paralympics in Los Angeles. With a
congratulations, and appreciation heart full of fire and a legacy already
poured in from all corners of the written in gold, silver, and sweat,
country. “Even my company BPCL Joby Mathew stands not just as a
promoted me soon after,” he shared champion of sport, but of the human
with a smile. “But more than anything, spirit. And he’s training harder than
the recognition gave me hope. It told ever to make it happen.
me my story matters.”
Vol-2 | Issue-2 | April-May-June 2025 | 9