Main Image via BBC

Life sometimes hits us hard, and tries to keep us down.  Here’s a story of one woman that who did more then just get up, she reached for gold.  

Manasi Joshi, in December 2011 was just a 22-year-old graduate who stated her first job as a software engineer in the metropolitan city of Mumbai , India. Living with her parents, the graduate would travel to work on her bike.

On a Friday, barely 10 minutes into her journey, disaster struck as she took a U-turn under a flyover. A lorry travelling in the wrong direction ran over her leg.

Facing severe injury on her leg , she was still conscious and waited for an ambulance to take her for immediate medical attention. The grueling wait instead lasted two whole hours.

Doctors made saving her leg a priority. She was in hospital for 45 days, going into surgery every 5 to 10 days. But eventually gangrene set in, and the medical team had to concede defeat. There was no choice but to amputate her leg.

Badminton began as part of a rehabilitation process to help her walk again with a prosthetic limb, but she began to show exceptional skill. One day she caught the eye of a fellow para-badminton player, who saw her defeat able-bodied competitors at a corporate tournament. He encouraged her to try out for the Indian team, which eventually led to her getting called to take part in a tournament in Spain.

Although she didn't win, she did, for the first time, feel the "transformational power" of the sport.

Manasi was soon to be found working in bank, where she met Indian national coach Pullela Gopichand, whom she approached for training. Under his guidance she reached remarkable heights.

In September 2015, Joshi won a silver medal in mixed doubles at the Para-Badminton World Championship held in Stoke Mandeville, England. In October 2018, she won a bronze medal for India at the Asian Para Games 2018, held in Jakarta, Indonesia. In August 2019, at the Para-Badminton World Championship 2019 in Basel, Switzerland, she beat her countrywoman Parul Parma to win a gold medal.                                                                                                                               

Manasi Joshi has managed to inspire millions with her story, next time you fall into a low, think of her amazing story. May it help you find the motivation to get up and be stronger then ever . 

Info via BCC

Written by Thineshkan