'I want that all the youngster, including my three children, learn from you guys about the importance of sports. And not because you earn gold medal and win in sports but because it is very important for one's personal well-being.'
'Through you guys, I want to tell people that the word 'impossible' holds no significance.'
Shah Rukh Khan said all individuals are 'incomplete' in their own way despite any amount of 'power and stardom' as he wished the Indian Paralympic Contingent for the Asian Para Games 2018 at their send-off ceremony.
The 52-year-old actor said people have to battle their weaknesses to 'fulfil their incompleteness'.
"We all are incomplete in one way or the other. Sometimes in the physical sense, sometimes we are unable to grow mentally... Even emotionally, there are some shortcomings in each one of us. It is said that God has made us 'like' him but not 'as' him.
"He sent us into the world so that we fight our disabilities and go on to complete our lives. Job, financial stability, stardom and power do not complete us. We have to fight our shortcomings to fulfil our incompleteness," Shah Rukh told the athletes in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The actor lauded the para athletes, saying they could have pursued any other profession to make a name but they chose sports, 'a field which actually makes you feel that you have to overcome all your incapacities, insecurities, smallness and weaknesses and aim for the impossible'.
Shah Rukh, whose childhood dream was to become a sportsman, revealed that he suffered an injury in his waist as a kid.
"At that time, there were not as many medical facilities as there are today. And we weren't well off that we could afford to go to expensive doctors. But my parents were by my side and used to encourage me a lot saying if one door closes, another one will open."
Shah Rukh recalled feeling low last month around Independence Day. He said watching Paralympian Deepa Malik's interview was like a shot in his arm and he felt the same encouragement as he did when his parents were by his side.
"I have undergone nine surgeries till date - in the spine, shoulders and the knees, etc. There are some mornings when I am in pain.
"There's a joke in the industry that I spend a lot of time in the bathroom. They don't know I have to start my day with a bit of stretching and lots of medicines and then get up and get going to work."
The actor said he was not invited to the ceremony but came himself for a 'selfish reason'.
"I am here so that I can snatch that confidence they have... I want to warn the film stars and other people in the industry that you all have made me more hale and hearty for the coming 25 years," he quipped.
"I want that all the youngster, including my three children, learn from you guys about the importance of sports. And not because you earn gold medal and win in sports but because it is very important for one's personal well-being. Through you guys, I want to tell people that the word 'impossible' holds no significance," he said.
As words of encouragement, Shah Rukh told the athletes that whenever they win at the Asian Para Games the 'medals would be lucky to have you and not the other way around'.
Deepa Malik along with others expressed their desire to name the actor the official brand ambassador of the para athletes, to which he said it would be an honour.
Also present at the event were PCI president Rao Inderjit Singh and Paralympic medallists Devendra Jhajharia, Mariappan Thangavelu and Varun Bhati, among others.
Indian athletes get rousing send-off by SRK
The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) in presence of actor Shah Rukh Khan gave a rousing send-off to the athletes ahead of the third Asian Para Games, slated to be held in Jakarta from October 6 to 13.
The Asian Para Games will see players participate in an array of events including athletics, swimming, badminton, chess and powerlifting.
"A massive 300-member team including about 200 athletes, coaches, support staff, escorts, staff and officials will be flying to Jakarta as part of the Indian contingent," PCI president Rao Inderjit Singh, said.
India's medal hopes will be pinned on Paralympic medallists Deepa Malik, Devendra Jhajharia, Mariappan Thangavelu, Varun Bhati at the continental event.
"In 2016 in the Rio Olympics, India was not able to win any gold medals. The entire country was sad. At that time our para athletes took it upon themselves to raise the Indian flag. We got four medals including two golds. Two of our athletes broke world records," Singh said.
Khan, who heads the Meer foundation that supports the para athletes, said: "My motivation of coming here is very selfish, I used to play sports when I was child. I got hurt one day and after that I was stuck at home for over a year.
"I thought my life is over but when I see these players I get inspired. I have come to take inspiration and thank these para athletes for motivating me."
Deepa, who became the first Indian woman to win a medal in Paralympic Games by clinching the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics in shot put, expressed her gratitude to the actor for associating himself with the games.
"When an athlete wins a medal its not just his/her medal its the entire country's. I am thankful to Shah Rukh for coming today because whatever he associates with gets more traction. His association with us will increase awareness about the games," she said.
Deepa along with other athletes also expressed their desire to name Khan the official brand ambassador of the para athletes.
In the Incheon edition of the Para Asian Games, India returned with a rich tally of 33 medals including three gold, 14 silver and 16 bronze medals.
