Para World Badminton: Manasi Secures Maiden Gold, Says Being World Champion ‘Feels Great’
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The news world has been taken by storm with the badminton star PV Sindhu winning gold at the BWF (Badminton World Federation) World Championship. She received a hero’s welcome when she landed back on Indian soil, followed by a personal meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Let’s take a step back and focus on another shuttle champion who has defied all the odds to be the new world champion at the BWF Para-badminton championship that took place in Switzerland. She beat the world number 1, as well as her Indian compatriot, to bring home her maiden gold.
Coming from the same Gopi Chand Academy that produced stars like PV Sindhu and Sania Nehwal, Manasi Joshi’s story is much more than what meets the eye.
Manasi held the badminton racket at a very young age and started playing with her father when she was a mere six-year-old. Over the years, she continued the practice that turned into a hobby, and later, went on to play matches at the district level as well.
By the time she was 22, Manasi began her work life and continued to practice badminton. But, the universe had a different plan for her.
On December 2, 2011, Manasi was on her way to work on her two-wheeler, when she met with an accident. A truck hit her, and her left leg went under the wheel, only to be crushed. Before she could be rushed to a hospital and operated on, she had lost a lot. In the process of treating the leg, the doctors realized that it had already gotten infected and amputation was the only way out.
After spending a month and a half in the hospital, coming to terms with reality and learning to walk with a crutch, Manasi was discharged. While the accident lost her a limb, there was nothing to tarnish her optimism. Once the injury had healed, Manasi went ahead to get a prosthetic leg. And, from there, she decided she did not want to look back anymore.
In the next eight months, Manasi went through rehabilitation, in order to learn to walk. The year after her accident, she continued a full-time job and also went on to participate in a badminton match at her office. She did not take the sports goal further since she remained dependent on crutches for support.
By June 2014, Manasi stepped into the gym and began a full-fledged workout routine to get fit again. The routine involved setting daily targets, walking, and lifting weights. In August that year, she enrolled for trials to represent Maharashtra at the state-level selection for the Asian Games. Although she did not make it, it proved to be a new beginning. That period showed her what she was actually capable of.
She decided to push her limits further with training, and later the same year, she won silver in her first national-level tournament. While participating in her first national-level tournament was in itself a special feeling, her pride was more because of who she played against—Parul Parmar, an Arjuna awardee. As an outcome of her victory, she was selected to play at the Spanish Para-Badminton Championship in March the following year.
And, medal after medal, year after year, Manasi Joshi went on to represent India at the 2019 BWF Para-Badminton Championship in Switzerland and defeated her first national-level opponent, Parul, to come back home with her first gold ever.
Manasi admits that the feeling of being called the world champion is wonderful while remembering that journey is never easy for any athlete, let alone a para-athlete.
All along the journey to her present victory, coach Gopi Chand was a constant driving factor for Manasi. Guiding her in not merely the strokes and fitness, he also helped in a mental level preparation for the match.
Currently balancing between a full-time job and a badminton regime, Manasi has no gaps to fill in her day. On a normal day, she begins life as early as 4:30 AM and works out and practices before heading off to work.
What Changed Over The Years?
For several years before her accident, Manasi was focused on her education and career, aiming merely at the material aspects of life. During that time, badminton served merely as a way to stay in shape. However, after her accident badminton turned into a way of life. It was not about fitness anymore. It turned into a means to send out a message.
With strong support from her family, and inspiration all around her in the form of several para-athletes she came in touch with, Manasi went on to do what may have been deemed impossible for several others.
Against all the odds, Manasi proves to be the living testament of “Impossible will take time. Difficult will be done immediately.”
Walk over to the mirror, and take a good look. Have any more excuses? Well, think again.
