'I had to prove myself time and again'

To say that this Bengaluru-based para-cyclist is an inspiration would be an understatement. 25-year-old Divij Shah is a pro when it comes to cricket, cycling, finance and handling life in general. He is now busy raising funds through the ‘Infinity Ride’, in association with Aditya Mehta Foundation, to help other para-athletes realise their dreams.

Divij is also gearing up for the ‘2017 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships’ and manages to sit down for a quick chat with Rajitha Menon about the ups and downs in life.
 
A bit about your journey till now...
I lost my right arm at the age of four when it got stuck between the elevator’s doors and eventually had to be amputated. But my father, an ardent sports lover, made me believe in myself. He got me inducted at a local cricket academy. I had to prove myself time and again to the coach of every team I wanted to be a part of but my determination proved the naysayers wrong. I soon played for the West Bengal U-16 (able-bodied) cricket team.

Your Bengaluru story
Equipped with a MBA in finance, I moved to Bangalore two and a half years back and currently work in a private company as a financial analyst. And it was here in Bengaluru that I took up cycling and after that, my life changed. It’s a great feeling to be among the fortunate few who have the honour of representing the country at international forums.

Challenges you have faced?
Without challenges, I wouldn’t have reached here today. When I decided to start cycling, one of the key obstacles was the lack of a dedicated lane or road for cyclists in Bengaluru. And then not having a customized cycle which a person like me could ride was another problem.

How did you tackle this?
I researched online, read up all manuals available on the UCI (mother body for world professional cycling) and tracked down international para-cyclists through social media who were among the best around the globe. After a lot of research and recommendations, I ordered the necessary spare parts and with the help of a local mechanic, got my customised cycle made.

The most memorable moment in your cycling career till now?
When I stood on the podium after winning the silver medal at the Asian Championship in Bahrain early this year. This was within just a few months of taking up cycling in a professional way.

Tell us a bit about the ‘Infinity Ride’.
This ride empowers you and helps you to empower others as well. The Aditya Mehta Foundation have helped me achieve my goals through their financial and technical assistance. Now, I would like to raise funds for them that will help many more para-athletes like me.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
My father is my biggest inspiration. At 50+ he is an absolute sportaholic and spends time playing basketball with his friends.

He has even played tournaments at the state level. Also, if you ask me what inspired me to take up cycling, then the compliment goes to Bengaluru’s
traffic.

If you could meet a celebrity, who would you like to meet and why?
The ‘Tour de France’ champions Chris Froome and Peter Sagan. I would like to shadow them and try and understand how they lead their life, train, eat, practice and so on.

Advice to aspiring athletes...
Don’t let anything ever stop you. Never think about what you don’t have but think what you can do with what you have.