India had another world champion in Basel on Sunday when the 30-year-old Manasi Joshi, who also trains at the Gopi Chand Academy here, clinched the women’s singles SL3 gold defeating World No. 1 and compatriot Parul Parmar 21-12, 21-7. This was her maiden title in the BWF Para World badminton championship.
“It feels great to be called a World champion. Never easy for any athlete and more so for someone like me who had to face adversity on all fronts to script this golden moment in my career,” said Manasi in an exclusive chat with The Hindu from Basel.
Tough competition
“The competition was very tough and this is my first win against Parul, having lost in the Canadian Open recently. This time I was well prepared, having worked on my strokes, fitness and mental toughness,” said Manasi, who became a champion in her third appearance in the Worlds (she won a bronze in 2017). “It was a terrific experience to play at the same venue, share corridors with the other badminton greats. It makes you feel that you are there with the elite,” she said.
What was Gopi’s advice? “To stay calm, play clear strokes and just be focused. Not think about what happened or what is going to happen,” said Manasi.
Manasi, was on her way to work in Mumbai in 2011, when she met with a road accident that her left leg crushed, arms broken and numerous other injuries.
For someone who played in her maiden ‘Nationals’ in 2014 and within five years is a World champion, Manasi says she owes it to the support staff at Gopi’s academy including coaches J. Rajendra Kumar and trainer L. Raju. She trained for two months before going for the Worlds.
“I am grateful to Gopi sir for being there for all the matches in the Worlds except for the final since it was an all-Indian affair,” she said.
“It was great to be treated on par with the regular players and I hope life will change, after having sacrificed everything for this golden moment, in terms of better recognition and support, especially like getting world class equipment to chase my dream of winning a gold in Paralympics and the next Asian Games.”
