Youth ridiculed for ‘funny walking style’ represents India at Paris '24

A 23-year-old resident of Uttarakhand - teased by the residents of his village for his ‘funny’ gait - represented India yesterday in the men’s final of the 20-kilometre walk at Paris Olympics 2024. 

On Thursday, Paramjeet Singh Bisht reportedly finished 37th in the 20 km men’s final where he took part alongside two other Indians - Vikash Singh and Akshdeep Singh. 

A native of Khalla village in Chamoli district Uttarakhand, Bisht used the roads of his village to practise for the event when they were secluded past 9 pm every day. 

He wanted to avoid the gaze of the other villagers, who ridiculed him for his ‘funny walking style,’ Bisht has said. 

“They would often laugh at me... as they were not aware it’s a globally recognised sport.” 

While Bisht clocked 1 hour, 23 minutes and 48 seconds in the finals, Singh crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 22 minutes and 36 seconds, and Akshdeep pulled out of the race around the 6-kilometre mark. 

Bisht presently holds the national record for the under-17 and under-19 men’s 5-kilometre walk events. In 2022, he joined the Indian Navy as a senior secondary recruit. 

“It was a great journey for me,” Bisht simply wrote on his Instagram after the race.