Days after historic CWG gold, Dilip Gavit leaves without meeting Raj Thackeray after two-hour wait

Just days after scripting history for Indian para athletics at the Commonwealth Games, gold medallist Dilip Gavit found himself making headlines for a very different reason. The 23-year-old sprinter, who became India's first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the men's 100m T47 event, waited for nearly two hours to meet Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray in Nashik on Thursday before leaving without the meeting taking place.Invited, but left waitingAccording to Gavit's coach quoted by PTI, Vaijanath Kale, the para-athlete had been invited to meet Thackeray during the MNS chief's visit to Nashik. However, despite arriving at the scheduled venue, Gavit and his coach were made to wait for nearly two hours. A video from the venue showed MNS workers requesting the duo to wait longer while trying to explain that Thackeray was occupied."We were waiting for quite some time... Sir is busy. We will meet him later," Kale is heard saying in the video before they eventually left.A champion who made history in GlasgowThe incident came just days after Gavit delivered one of India's biggest moments at the Commonwealth Games. Clocking a Games-record 10.71 seconds, the Nashik sprinter won the men's 100m T47 gold medal, leading a historic Indian one-two finish alongside Mohammed Basil Morssinganakath, who claimed silver. The victory marked India's first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in para athletics 100m T47.A journey built on resilienceGavit's success carries a deeper significance given his remarkable journey. Born into an economically disadvantaged tribal family in Maharashtra, he lost his right arm in a childhood accident. His life changed when coach Vaijanath Kale took him under his wing at the age of 12, supporting his education and athletic development. After winning gold in Glasgow, Gavit emotionally dedicated the medal to Kale, crediting his coach for transforming his life.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.