Kerala Superman hand-walks on the Great Wall of China and bench-presses world medals

Joby Mathew arrived at an entrance to the Great Wall of China and realised it was a steady climb. He tried racing his wheelchair uphill to reach the base point from where the cable car services operated, but it wouldn't budge. He pushed a little harder, and one of the wheels went kaput. Joby switched to plan B: He hand-walked, carrying the wheelchair.

"I wasn't going to let a minor setback stop me from exploring one of the world's seven wonders," Joby said while transiting in Hong Kong Wednesday afternoon. "Actually, I couldn't waste 250 Yuan on the tickets (approx: ₹3,000)." That extra line, added with a chuckle, was probably an attempt to sound more like Clark Kent than Superman.

A few hours before he joined the line of tourists, Joby competed at the Para Powerlifting World Cup in Beijing, where he lay flat on his back, a belt fastened just under his thighs, and bench-pressed 150kg in one go. He won a gold medal (total lift of 295kg) and a silver (best lift) in the Men's Upto 65kg category, and missed out on a bronze by a technicality.

At 49, Joby is one of the oldest active sportspersons in the country. Over the years, he has bagged 31 World medals in various events, including powerlifting, arm wrestling, para badminton, para athletics and Dwarf Games. "Many times I have felt broken. There were occasions when I was let down. But I kept going, pushing myself, because these medals are my response to the many setbacks I have had."

Two years ago, Joby had a major setback in China. He had arrived with a large Indian contingent for the Asia Para Games but could not compete because his accreditation was deemed invalid due to a technical issue. "For three days, I was confined to a hotel room. I would go to the competition venue to cheer for our teammates, but being ready and unable to compete was a painful experience."

Joby has had setbacks all through his life. He stands 3ft 5 inches due to a birth condition that caused stunted legs. He is categorised as a physically challenged person with 60% disabilities. "The kind of unspeakable things he has heard..," Dr Megha, his wife, stuttered as she spoke over the phone from their house in Aluva. "Some said, 'People with both legs can't win medals, what are you going to do?' Some told him to find an office job on reservation. Often I myself wonder how Joby chettan motivates himself to remain such a top athlete."

Megha and Joby have been married for 16 years, and the couple has two sons, class 10 student Jyotis and class 4 student Vidyut. "The younger one is always so keen to help his father. He even offers to help lift up the weights when Joby chettan works out on a modest set up we have upstairs," said Dr Megha, who teaches at MES College, Edathala near Aluva.

But Joby hardly complains or listens to naysayers. Ask him for a comment on something controversial, and he will invariably find a silver lining in it. "Whenever someone hurts me, I hit the gym and convert my pain into energy," Joby said. He works as a manager at Bharat Petroleum in Kochi. "I am extremely thankful to my employers. My colleagues are super supportive. Every time I go out to compete I tell them I will bring back medals. I am just happy I haven't disappointed them," Joby said.

Meanwhile, this reporter made the mistake of asking Joby that one regular question every veteran athlete is asked. "When do you plan to retire?" Joby was not taken aback; he responded with his usual enthusiasm. "Do you know something? I may be the only professional athlete who has never had injuries. I don't think about retirement. Honestly, I don't want to stop competing. I have to keep going." Joby plans to make the Indian team for the 2028 LA Paralympics. He will be 51 then. But isn't that just a number?