Shaurya Chakra awardee auctions his marathon medals to raise money for PM Cares

Bengaluru: Shaurya Chakra awardee Praveen Kumar Teotia, who was injured in 26/11 Taj operation in Mumbai, has auctioned his gold medals that were won in Tata Mumbai marathon in order to raise money for the PM Cares relief fund.

The medals were bought by Jayaram Reddy and Vinita Reddy of Bengaluru. Teotia had decided to auction 40 medals on his website and there is finalisation on one more medal after which the soldier will be able to raise one lakh more for the relief fund, apart from the 2 lakhs he has already raised.

Teotia was part of the elite MARCOS (Marine Commandos). In the ensuing operation, he took four bullets that resulted in chest and lung injuries. He suffered damage to his left ear as well.

After suffering bullet injuries, the soldier went against the doctor's advise and started running as Teotia believes, 'If you want to, you find yourself become a marathon runner.'

“These medals were won in 2018 and 2019 and are very dear to me. But somehow I come from a village in Uttar Pradesh called Bhatona that has given 39 martyrs, 8 freedom fighters and Chaudhary Charan Singh as the prime minister. Moreover, I am a soldier. The feeling of giving something to the nation is ingrained in me,” Teotia says.

He is of the firm opinion that whoever will buy the medals can inspire others as those medals were earned with sheer hard work.

"This is the time to stand together. One should always think about giving back to the nation. Mental toughness is more important than anything else and I hope that the families who have bought this will keep getting inspired and inspire others," he said to Deccan Chronicle.

Teotia underwent five surgeries after the Taj operation. He was part of the rescue team that went to Sri Lanka during Tsunami. After he hung his uniform he has been giving commando training to policemen at different training centres across the country for free of cost.