'Para-athletes are real life heroes': Sachin Tendulkar urges everyone to cheer for Indian contingent in Tokyo

Tendulkar said each para-athlete is a role model and to see them perform for India is in itself a great sense of satisfaction for the country.

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has made an appeal to the people of the country to rally behind the Indian contingent of 54 para-athletes, who are set to participate in the Tokyo Games. In what is India's biggest ever contingent to Paralympic Games, 54 athletes from across nine sports disciplines will feature in the tournament. Master Blaster Tendulkar lauded the "extraordinary ability" of the participants and said their journeys are an eye-opener for everyone. "I have always believed that these women and men are not athletes with special abilities. Rather, they are women and men of extraordinary ability who are all real life heroes for each one of us. Their journeys are an eye-opener to what women and men can do with passion, commitment and determination and serve as inspiration for every one of us," Tendulkar said.