Manasi Joshi, who featured on the cover of Time Magazine and created a doll based on her model, is now looking for Paralympic gold in Tokyo next year.
Manasi Joshi of India lost her leg in a terrible traffic accident, but found her calling – and international recognition – on the badminton court.
Now the inspiring world champion, who featured on the cover of Time Magazine and who had a unique Barbie doll made after her model, is aiming for Paralympic gold when badminton debuts in Tokyo next year.
Eight years ago, a 23-year-old software engineer, she was driving her scooter to work in Mumbai when she was rammed by a truck that crushed her left leg and broke both of her arms.
Joshi’s badly injured leg was amputated by doctors and she had to be rehabilitated for months to learn to walk again.
But the accident could not harm her spirit, and the young woman was determined to strengthen her strength through her favorite sport, badminton.
I’ve come a long way.
“It was a journey of learning and accepting different things,” Joshi, 31, told AFP news agency in a telephone interview from her home in the western city of Ahmedabad.
“Working hard on things that looked tough but are now a new normal. That’s why I’ve come a long way. “
Joshi’s injured leg was amputated and it took her months of rehabilitation to learn to walk again [Sam Panthaky/AFP].
Three months after the accident, she was fitted with a prosthetic leg and returned to court to pursue her passion.
She started playing badminton at the age of six and used her skills, which she had honed through success in school, college and office competitions, to find her lead again.
Five months after putting on the prosthetic leg, Joshi won her first gold in an office tournament against physically healthy players.
“I used more of my mind. I got people up and running and made sure they put the shuttle in my hand wherever I put it so I can finish the point, ”she said.
“It was a turning point after my injury and the win has certainly boosted my confidence,” she said.
Encouraged, with the support of her family, she trained harder and eventually gave up software engineering to play badminton full-time in 2016.
Two years later she entered the academy of national coach Pullela Gopichand in Hyderabad and became a member of the Indian national para-badminton team.
Last year Joshi won individual gold at the Para-Badminton World Championships – 2019 was a groundbreaking year for India’s female badminton players, in which the PV Sindhu also became world champions.
A new challenge awaits Joshi with the COVID-delayed Paralympics in Japan next year [Sam Panthaky/AFP].
Time Magazine featured Joshi on the cover of its Asia edition this month as one of eight global “next generation” leaders.
The US makers of the famous Barbie doll celebrated Joshi’s achievements on International Girls’ Day on October 11th with a Barbie modeled after her.
“I am honored to be a part of all of this. And I think that will inspire people and they will believe that anything is possible, ”said Joshi, adding that recognition for the achievements of the variously gifted athletes is increasing.
“The whole story changes.”
Joshi now expects a new challenge with the coronavirus-delayed Paralympics in Japan next year in mixed doubles and women’s doubles, as there will be no individual competitions.
She trains with her brother and trainer Kunjan Joshi six days a week, sometimes even twice a day, and focuses on improving her strength and endurance.
“These are the people I see working hard on the whole script [meines Lebens]to change and make sure I give my 100 percent, ”she said.
