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Lost Her Leg But Not Her Will: Para-Athlete Manasi Joshi Wins Her First World Championship

Lost Her Leg But Not Her Will: Para-Athlete Manasi Joshi Wins Her First World Championship

There’s no denying that young Indian athletes are taking over the world of sports with ease. With a will to win and the power to kill, many athletes are making waves in the ring, on the court, or on the pitch. One of India’s beloved athletes, PV Sindhu made the entire nation proud after she became the first Indian shuttler to win gold at BWF (Badminton World Federation) World Championship on Sunday. However, there was another athlete who brought home her first gold just a day before Sindhu won the championship.

Manasi Joshi, a 30-year-old, para-badminton athlete won the BWF Para World Badminton Championship on Saturday. In 2011, Manasi met with an accident that injured her leg. The accident was so severe that doctors had no option but to amputate her left leg. The tragic accident forced the athlete to go for a prosthetic leg after her surgery. She then decided to keep badminton as her hobby along with her job as a software engineer. 

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Manasi competed in a match just one year after her accident and won the match even with a prosthetic leg! She quickly realised her capability and then there was no looking back for the para-athlete.

In an interview with a leading daily, Manasi opened up about how becoming a world champion was not an easy thing for her. “It feels great to be called a world champion. Never easy for any athlete and more so for someone like me who has to face adversity on all fronts to script this golden moment in my career,” she said.

Along with Manasi, the Para Badminton Team in total won 12 medals during the championship. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Manasi and her team with full enthusiasm. He tweeted: “130 crore Indians are extremely proud of the Indian Para Badminton contingent, which has brought home 12 medals at BWF World Championships 2019. Congratulations to the entire team, whose success is extremely gladdening and motivating. Each of these players is remarkable!”

As a token of respect, all the athletes would be given a cash prize of Rs 20 lakh each after they are back to the country.

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However, many felt that the media didn’t give proper coverage to the para championship. While some congratulated the athlete, a few expressed their disappointment on social media Twitter.

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Manasi, however, took to Twitter and congratulated PV Sindhu for her win like a true sportsperson.

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What an impressive one, Manasi. More power to you! 

Featured Image: Twitter

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28 Aug 2019
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