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Updated: April 16, 2020 9:18:52 pm
Praveen Teotia has become an expert marathoner. (Source: Praveen Teotia / Indian Express)
A marine command that was injured during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks is auctioning off its marathon medals to raise funds for the battle against COVID-19, and has already contributed Rs 2 lakh.
Praveen Teotia was one of the Indian Navy marine commandos who were part of ‘Operation Black Tornado’ at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai in 2008. Awardee Shaurya Chakra received four bullets to the chest, sustained a serious injury to the right side of his chest and sustained damage to his left ear.
Today, Teotia is a marathon runner who has participated in events around the world and has decided to auction off her medals to help fight COVID-19.
“After Prime Minister Narendra Modi applied for a contribution to the relief fund, I decided to auction off 40 of my medals on online platforms. I have already managed to sell two of them and received a sum of Rs 2 lakh. It has been deposited into the PM-CARES aid fund, “Teotia told the indianexpress.com
One of his medals. (Source: Praveen Teotia)
“These are medals that I earned with my sweat and tears when I ran after recovering from the gunshot wounds sustained during the 11/26 attack. So I’m giving them away and I hope to inspire others to contribute in any way they can, “he said.
“I believe in this fight, we are all together. Let’s not criticize each other right now and let’s be side by side, ”he said.
If you can’t be a candle, just be a mirror that can reflect light.
I auctioned off my hard earned Marathon Medal for the country. @DuttYogi @BabitaPhogat @PMOIndia @adgpi @indiannavy @SrBachchan @mfuloria @rajnathsingh @SunilLanba @izzo_elizabeth @MoHFW_INDIA @DiwakarSharmaa https://t.co/njGiKlpW58– Marcos Praveen Teotia (@MarcosPraveen) April 7, 2020
When asked what motivated him to start auctioning his hard-earned medals, Teotia said: “As a former soldier, I have always been taught to return to my country. I come from a people that has given this nation 39 martyrs, eight freedom fighters and a former prime minister: Chaudhury Charan Singh. As I am neither a doctor nor a doctor, this is the only way I can offer my services to the country in this time of crisis. “
Teotia currently lives with her family in the village of Bhatona in Uttar Pradesh.
After suffering injuries in 2008, he was discharged from the hospital after five surgeries, but his hearing was still partially affected. Unable to return to her previous role, she was assigned a desk job.
Praveen Teotia wears one of her medals after a marathon. (Source: Praveen Teotia)
Determined to prove his worth, Teotia began participating in marathons after retiring from the Indian Navy. Twelve years later, it has almost two dozen of them, including the world’s tallest 72-kilometer ultra-marathon “Khardung La Challenge” in Ladakh. The former soldier is also twice an Ironman (South Africa and Malaysia) and in February 2020 his name appeared on Limca Book Records as “India’s first Ironman with different abilities”.
And despite the shutdown, Teotia still makes sure to stay in shape.
“I keep exercising, running inside my house and sometimes cutting sugar cane on the farm attached to my residence,” he said.
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