New Delhi: Now that SL3 category of para badminton has been included in Paris Paralympics, Manasi Joshi will finally get a chance to represent India at the mega event.
For the former world champion, a Paralympic medal would be the perfect way to cap off her decorated career. The former World No.1 boasts of a cabinet filled with trophies, yet it didn’t have an Olympics medals.
That could change from August 28 when the Paralympics start in Paris. “”Thanks to many years of consistent performances and so much support from people around me. Couldn’t have made it till here alone,’’ the 35-year-old wrote on her X account after qualifying for the para Games.
Lost a leg due to road accident
A road accident cruelly took away one leg from her in 2011, after which she began playing badminton as part of her rehabilitation, launching her sporting career in 2015.
She found success almost instantly, claiming a silver medal in mixed doubles at the Para-Badminton World Championship in England and enrolled at national badminton champion Pullela Gopichand’s academy in Hyderabad in 2018.
It led to more podium finishes as she got a bronze medal at the Asian Para Games in Jakarta in 2018. At the Para-Badminton World Championship in Basel next year she won gold medal.
It helped her become the top ranked in the SL3 category in March 2022, following which she bagged silver in the doubles along with Thulasimathi Murugesan and a bronze in the singles SL3 at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Gangzhou.
Recognised by Time Magazine and the BBC as one of the inspirational women personalities, her achievement has also been celebrate by Barbie, which modeeled a doll similar to her appearance on the occasion of the International Day of Girl Child (October 11) in 2020.
Para shuttler Manasi Joshi is a former world champion, who was ranked World No.1 in SL3 category of women’s singles in 2022. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
