Just a couple of days ago PV Sindhu won a gold medal at the World Championship. And now another daughter of India, Manasi Joshi has won gold at the Para World Badminton Championship (PWBC) and became the first Indian to do so.
She defeated three-time SL3* world champion Parul Parmar. The 30-year-old won the match scoring 21-12, 21-7. Even though she started a bit slow with 2-7, later on, she gained and went on to win the tournament.
Fitness Was The Main Focus
While speaking to the Paralympic Committee of India, Manasi says, “I have trained extremely hard, training three sessions a day. The focus was on my fitness, so I also lost some weight and gained more muscle. I spent more time in the gym, working six sessions a week.” Manasi started playing in para-badminton since 2015 and it was her dream to win gold.
In 2011, Manasi Joshi was hit by a truck at a busy junction and lost her leg. She also sustained multiple injuries and broke her arms. It took almost three hours for her to reach the hospital and she was operated 10 hours after the accident. Since a lot of time was wasted it caused gangrene and Manasi was left with an amputated left leg.
I Lost A Leg, Not An Organ, Says Manasi
In one of her interviews, Manasi said, “At the time I was thinking that I have just lost a leg, not an organ. If I can’t run around, it’s okay.” After her accident, she re-learned once again the way to walk using a prosthetic limb. It took her four months to perfect walking with the artificial limb after which she participated in an inter-company badminton championship where she had won the gold previously.
Manasi once again clinched the gold which gave her confidence a huge boost. During this time, she also trained herself in scuba diving.
I earned it.
Worked every bit for it. pic.twitter.com/sGZRL9GWMu— Manasi Nayana Joshi (@joshimanasi11) August 27, 2019
In 2014, she decided to become a professional and participated in the Para Asian Games. Even though she could not qualify, her efforts garnered attention. Ever since then she has won medals and matches at various international events.
In the high of PV Sindhu getting Gold in world championship, we forgot to wish #ManasiJoshi, who won Gold in World Para Badminton championship!
Here is it wishing her..: pic.twitter.com/wOW5zjy20c— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) August 28, 2019
Golden Beti's Who Made India Proud
Pic 1 #PVSindu becomes first Indian to win Gold ? in World Woman Badminton Championship.
Pic 2 #ManasiJoshi who won Gold in World Para Badminton championship.
A True Champions ?? pic.twitter.com/WPzeFzGyUO
— Mahesh Joshi (@MaheshJoshi_MJ) August 27, 2019
"Doesnt matter what life serves you, be ready with a strong forehand.”
What a powerful picture of @joshimanasi11!! Losing her leg in a accident seems to have only made her more determined.#ManasiJoshi won Gold in World Para Badminton championship. What an inspiration!#India ??? pic.twitter.com/z5oiBWzVgv— Akancha Srivastava (@AkanchaS) August 28, 2019
