Badminton star PV Sindhu has been the talk of the town for clinching gold at the World Championships. Along with her para-badminton player Manasi Joshi also created history by securing gold at the World Championships, just a day before Sindhu.

It was a dream come true moment for Manasi when she emerged victorious against experienced compatriot Parul Parmer in the women’s singles SL3 final on Saturday.

Life’s other plans

In 2011, Manasi met with an accident when she was on her way to work, which left her with a crushed left leg, broken arms, and numerous other injuries. After 10 hours of struggle in the operation theatre, Manasi came out with one leg amputated due to gangrene.

In 2012, she re-learned how to walk with a prosthetic limb for around four months, and participated in an inter-company badminton championship where she bagged a gold medal. This time too, she was crowned the winner. This victory gave Manasi a surge in confidence, and she continued playing badminton. It was only the start of an inspiring journey in the sport. She also got trained in scuba diving.

In 2014, Manasi tried to participate in the Para Asian Games but wasn’t selected. The same year, Manasi played her first national-level badminton tournament and ended up winning a silver medal. A 5th position finish in the Spanish Para-badminton international championship next year was nothing short of an achievement.

Joshi trains at Pullella Gopichand’s academy in Hyderabad, which has among its stars Sindhu and World Championship bronze winner Sai Praneeth.

 For somebody who played Nationals in 2014 and within these five years is currently a World champion, Manasi says she owes it to the total group of care staff at GopiChand Academy including mentors where she prepared for two months before going for the championship tournament.

“It feels extraordinary to be known as the world champion. It’s never simple for any athlete and somebody like me who needs to confront difficulty on all fronts to script this golden moment in my career,”  Manasi said after becoming a world champion.

“I trust that life will change, after sacrificing everything for this golden moment, in terms of better support, especially like getting the best equipment to pursue my dreams of winning a gold in the Paralympics and next Asian Games,” said Manasi.

With just one year to go in the 2020 Paralympics, Manasi has her sight set on her next target.

Her advice to youngsters

Giving advice to the young generation, a confident Manasi said, “People lose hope because there are people around them who tell them that it will be difficult. I want to tell everyone that it is really easy. If you think you want to do it, you will find people who will help you and make you reach where you are supposed to go. Things are extremely easy. All we require is honesty and patience.”

Manasi’s spirit has helped her face life’s curveballs with ease and adaptability.

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An avid biker and para archer, Mahendra Pitale’s magic hands have created idols out of the mud. His skills had earned him enough to run the family. But a blast in a train at Mumbai’s Jogeshwari station in 2006 changed everything. He lost his left hand in the Mumbai local train bomb blasts, but that did not deter Mahendra Pitale from chasing his dreams.

While narrating the incident Pitale said: “It’s been 10 years and I still recall the whole incident which took the lives of 188 people on that day. On July 11, after leaving my office in Vile Parle, I was on my way to the station. A bomb had exploded in a local train at Mahim, in which I too was travelling. Impact of the blast was so intense that I flew off the compartment and later discovered myself lying on the platform in a pool of blood. I held onto my crushed arm till I reached the hospital. When the doctor said it could not be restored, I was shattered,” he said. For months Pitale was in depression, as he lost his job in a glass sculpting and interior design firm. 

Mahendra lost his left hand—and his zeal to live. A passionate biker, Mahendra decided to hit the road with bullet motorcycle after 12 years with his prosthetic arm. He participates in bike rallies for good causes and volunteers for NGOs that work for the betterment of the disabled. “While working with the NGO I came across people who don’t have both their legs and are wheelchair-bound. There are people who are visually-impaired and have to be dependent on others for their needs. This made me realise that I have not suffered as much as these people must be going through,” he said.

Mahendra’s indomitable spirit was the one that helped him overcome his fears and bring normalcy in life again. “This prosthetic arm has now become a part of my life and I feel nothing unusual about it now. Yes, I cannot work with the same speed as I used to earlier” said Mahendra. However, with the help of a prosthetic arm and a positive attitude towards life, he started a fresh. Currently, he works with the Western Railways as a grade IV employee.

At present, Mahendra is now trying to improve his archery to get into the Paralympics.

 More importantly, he finds time to counsel those impaired by accident or disease. “I go to such traumatized people and tell them my life story,” he said. 

“I tell them to have faith and there is something better in store for them,” said Mahendra.

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An aspiring cyclist and a batsman, amputee Mayur Dumasia have created history by attempting a record-breaking cycle expedition.

Mayur had lost his right arm in a train accident in 2001 when he was just 14 years old. He was shattered and attempted suicide twice but thanks to the rock-steady support of his father and brother, he gradually picked-up the threads back to life.

Speaking further about his preparations about this expedition Mayur Dumasia said, “I have prepared myself for this journey in extreme weather conditions, and in very challenging situations such as cycling in extremely cold weather up to 100 miles each day. I have practiced very hard because I am committed to the cause”.

The talented cyclist pedaled from Delhi to Mumbai for awareness of multiple Social Issues women’s safety, Swachh Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and spread awareness. His journey was across 5 Indian states, over 1600 km and in a span of 15 days to reach his final destination, Mumbai. His expedition also includes filling potholes throughout the route.

Currently, he is a Batsman in the Indian Disabled Cricket Team. He was even part of the Indian cricket team for physically challenged that won the Asia Cup in 2015 and he has also played some winning innings in International Cricket Tournaments.

Since his right hand was amputated, he had to start over completely. He started to use his left hand to do the basic chores of daily life. It took him nearly a year to write a complete sentence and thus was able to continue further studies. He says with astonishment and pride that today he is able to teach students Finance at the Graduation level and can extensively write some really tough financial calculations on the blackboard. He always takes time out for his students after class and motivates them not only to excel in studies but also extra-curricular activities and counsels them on various other issues.

Mayur’s journey was brought alive on social media, including his interactions with school children, soldiers, and villagers. Also captured were his struggles through bad roads and cold weather conditions and the triumphant moments, making this expedition a first of its kind for more than one reason.

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