“In 2012 I first picked up a racquet to play tennis. It wasn’t easy because I had never played any sport before. But Sitaram sir from Karnataka Wheelchair Tennis Association was the one who really encouraged me to try it. One day, I watched others play and that inspired me to try it too. After being diagnosed with polio at the age of three, the infection permanently damaged my right leg, forcing me to walk with the help of a caliper for the rest of my life. I had no idea about using the wheelchair while playing. It was quite a challenge, but I was up for it! Throughout these initial training days, my family didn’t know about my training sessions. I remember my serious lessons started when Chief coach Niranjan Ramesh offered to teach me for free. He asked me to come to the court at 7 in the morning. I was there at 7 am every day for 16 days straight, but he didn’t turn up. On the 17th day, he came to me and said, ‘I’ve been watching you come here everyday. I see your passion and interest in the sport. Come, let’s learn’. Right from movements and techniques to using my wheelchair, I learnt it all. Around that time, there was a fundraiser that offered to sponsor a Quickie wheelchair. I reached the goal they had allotted and won the competition, and secured a wheelchair. That was the first time I told my mother about it, and she spent 15k to buy me a good racquet. No looking back since then!
In 2013, I represented Karnataka in the National Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Championship, where I made it till the semi-finals. I was also a finalist in both the single and doubles tournaments in the National Wheelchair Championship of India, representing Karnataka. Just a couple of days ago, I won women’s singles in Charminar Open 2019, organised by the Indian Wheelchair Tennis Tour.
My biggest movement, however, was when I represented India in Thailand Open. But that’s also when I saw the kind of support and treatment players from other countries received. It truly helped them play a much better game. We don’t have diets, personalised coaching or facilities like they do. Our coaches spend their money sometimes to send us to international tournaments. With so many of us participating with passion and determination, and of course, Indian Wheelchair Tennis Tour giving us a platform, I hope we get noticed. All Indian Wheelchair Tennis Tour matches have no entry fee and that’s because we want more people to come and watch us play. That’s the encouragement we need. My 14-year-old son recently told me that he wants to watch my game on TV. Someday, with the right exposure and interest from sport enthusiasts, that too will be fulfilled.”
@Humans of Hyderabad in collaboration with @Indian Wheel Chair Tennis Tour supports development of Wheelchair Tennis in India. Use the following hashtags to know more on how you can help us.
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