In Conversation with Manasi Girishchandra Joshi
Manasi Girishchandra Joshi is a para-badminton player from India.
Updated
On this page
Updated November 2026. This was first published on 21 November 2022. The idea is the same. Any number below is what the original piece said then. It is not a new count. This is a record of a conversation from that day. No new quotes were added.
Key takeaways
- Manasi Girishchandra Joshi is a para-badminton player from India.
- She is the reigning champion and a changemaker.
- She began her professional athletic career in 2015 and was rated world number two in women’s singles in the SL3 category in 2020.
Manasi Girishchandra Joshi is a para-badminton player from India. She is the reigning champion and a changemaker. She began her professional athletic career in 2015 and was rated world number two in women’s singles in the SL3 category in 2020.
Manasi was named TIME Magazine’s Next Generation Leader 2020 in October 2020, and she appeared on the magazine’s Asia cover, making her the first para-athlete in the world and the first Indian athlete to be featured on the magazine’s cover for being an advocate of rights for persons with disabilities.
Barbie honoured Manasi and her accomplishments on the International Day of the Girl Child (11 October 2020) by creating a one-of-a-kind Barbie doll in her likeness to encourage young girls. Also, she was named by the BBC as one of the world’s 100 most inspirational and influential women in 2020 and she was featured in the Self-made women of 2020 list by Forbes India.
Manasi was born in Rajkot, Gujarat, and reared in Mumbai’s Anushaktinagar neighbourhood. In 2010, she earned a bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering from the K. Somaiya College of Engineering at the University of Mumbai. Manasi, a sports enthusiast, participated in football and badminton throughout her high school and college years. She began playing badminton at the age of six with her father, a retired scientist from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and has represented her school, college, and company in various competitions throughout the years. She worked as a software engineer after graduating in 2010. On 2nd December 2011, Manasi met with a road accident on her way to work, necessitating the amputation of her leg. Manasi was released from MGM hospital Vashi, Navi Mumbai, after 45 days of hospitalization.
While continuing with her 9-6 job as a software developer, she began practicing yoga, meditation, and badminton following her injury in 2012-2013 to restore her health. She began playing badminton as part of her recovery and was encouraged to try out for the national squad by another para-badminton player. she was selected for the 2014 Asian Para-Games and competed in her first international competition in Spain. In 2015, Manasi earned a silver medal in mixed doubles at the BWF Para-Badminton World Championship in Stoke Mandeville, England, alongside her XD partner. In 2018, she enlisted Pullela Gopichand as her coach and joined in his Hyderabad badminton academy. Following that, a flurry of national and international medals ensued. In August 2019, she won gold in the BWF Para-Badminton World Championship in Switzerland, one of the sport’s largest competitions. She recently won 2 gold medals (women’s singles SL3 & mixed doubles with Ruthick Raghupathi) & 1 bronze medal (women’s doubles with Shanthiya Vishwanathan) at Uganda Para Badminton International competition. Her triumph was originally overshadowed by a notable non-disabled Indian badminton player’s victory. But, seeing the paucity of coverage of Joshi’s triumph, social media poured congratulations on her days later. She is also swiftly establishing herself as a significant advocate for India’s tens of millions of disabled people.
You were a full-time software engineer with Atos India till July 2016 post which you joine #
I have been playing badminton since the age of 6. It started as a hobby when I joined the school summer camp. While studies were my focus, I kept playing the sport and eventually started representing my school and college at district-level tournaments. I graduated from KJ Somaiya College of Engineering in 2010 and secured a job with a corporate as a Software Engineer. It was only in 2015 that I started playing badminton professionally. Post-accident, I used yoga and badminton for rehabilitation. One thing led to the other, and I landed in the selection trials for Asian Para Games 2014. While I didn’t make it to the Indian contingent then, it was the start of my professional sports journey. With more and more participation at international events, I realized that there is no limit to the human body. I saw a lot of potential for me in the sport and wanted to explore it further. So, I decided to quit my job and pursue the sport full time.
After the accident, how did physiotherapy help you with the rehabilitation post-surgery?
I met with an accident in Dec 2011 and, after 45 days of hospitalization, lost a battle and my leg to it. I had an above-knee amputation along with a compound fracture in my left had radius and ulna bones. It took me another 2.5 months for my wounds to heal completely, after which I started with my rehabilitation, i.e. It was during my hospitalization that I had my first physiotherapy session. I remember my physiotherapist first taught me how to use crutches and walk, and go up and down the stairs. Initially, I was afraid of falling down while walking, but my physiotherapist spent a lot of time training me to go up and down the slopes, stairs and uneven surfaces.
I also had a compound fracture in my radius and ulna after the accident. So for me, physiotherapy was also about learning to regain my hand what it does which took a lot of time. Every day I knew what my targets were, and I was not sad but determined to achieve my goal to get better. My family, friends, and physiotherapist made sure to fill in hope and positivity, which made me stronger.
How was your experience at the Dubai Para-Badminton Tournament 2021?
One of the prosthetics that I used to play with had developed a problem just two weeks before the tournament, so I had to shift to a running prosthesis that I was still adapting to. I did adapt to it quickly because of the support of my trainers, who believed that I was strong enough to adapt to changes in prosthetics.
Also, this was our first tournament after the pandemic broke. So, it felt great to be back competing with my fellow athletes from across the world. I was happy enough to win a silver there, although I thought to bag Gold.
You played the maiden ‘Nationals’ in 2014 and within five years you became a World champion. Who all have been an integral part of your success?
My family and friends have been the biggest support and my cheerleader through this. Also, I believe that I have been fortunate to have met some nice people who have believed in my journey and supported me at different stages in life.
My trainers, coaches, physio, prosthetists, sponsors – Welspun Foundation and Mallcom Group, my employer BPCL, and colleagues at different companies have supported and helped me navigate through my job + sports. It is a combination of support from family, friends and these people / organisations, that I have come so far.
Also to training costs, differently-abled players need to cover costs for physical therapy, prosthetics, and physiotherapy. Can we discuss what the government is doing to improve participation in sports for such talent?
It has taken a while, but people have gradually begun to recognize para-sports / athletes. This change in perception is good for us, para-athletes. The government support has been immense, along with private companies that have programs designed focussing on athletes. All of this is contributing to creating a great ecosystem around sports, especially para-sports.
The makers of America’s famous Barbie doll celebrated your achievements last year on the International Day of Girl Child on October 11 with a Barbie modelled of you. Did it in some way help change the perception of people regarding disabilities?
You know, disability in itself covers a huge spectrum ranging from locomotor disability to vision impairment, hearing impairment, to name a few. I am happy to be recognized as a voice to represent the disability community that is so underrepresented in India. I am glad I have this platform because of my sport, which helps me amplify my voice. I hope that seeing a barbie doll modelled to my likeness will change a lot of perceptions surrounding disability. I believe that education around inclusion and diversity should start early. I hope that my story inspires many more lives and encourages young girls to harness their true potential to fight hard and become whoever they set out to be.
What training regime do you follow to stay in the best possible shape, both physically and mentally?
On a daily basis, I have to take care of my training on-court and off-court, strength & conditioning, nutrition, etc. I have been training at the Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad since 2018. I have to undergo extensive training sessions during tournaments season and keep it light during off-seasons.
My daily routine currently involves two sessions a day, six days a week—one session on the court and one session off-court (gym). I have learned that to be a part of the competition model. I have to maximize the use of current equipment/ assistive device / prosthetic leg, making sure I remain injury-free and perform at the highest level. I also make sure I do drills to practice mindfulness for mental conditioning.
One of the core skill components is developing hand skills and working on my mobility, footwork and movement. The current prosthesis available are designed to assist people with forward movement like (walking, running, etc.). But badminton requires backward, diagonal, sideways movement during the game. I spend 7-8 hours per day on court and gym to work on these aspects.
Being a sportsperson, you must face highs and lows in your career.
To take one step at a time and not push myself extremely or expect results too early. Learning the quality of tolerance and patience and working hard each day to fulfill my big or small ambition keeps me going.
Despite the failure, when I see that my friends and family are always supporting me, it keeps me motivated to achieve more in life.
What advice would you like to give to a young one who want to build a career in fitness and sports?
I have realized over the years that hard work, ambition/vision, and perseverance are the most important things required to be successful. Be it engineering, coding, or playing a sport. My message would be for the parents first. I urge them to speak to their children and not strike an opportunity off because they feel that their kids can’t do it.
For me, I was fortunate enough to have parents who let me experiment and always supported me in whatever I wanted to pursue. I was never told that I could not do something because of my gender or ability. I was always told I could despite it.
The most important thing is to empower children at a young age and help them in finding their true potential.
My message to the young ones will be, “Do not listen to anyone who says that you can’t do something. you have to dream and give it all because dreams do come true.”.
Questions and answers #
What is the main point? #
Manasi Girishchandra Joshi is a para-badminton player from India.
What else did the original piece say? #
She is the reigning champion and a changemaker.