Inspirational journey of a para shuttler Gyan Prakash Sharma

An inspirational journey for Gyan Prakash Sharma who interestingly will be competing in the Khelo India Para Games for the first time and that too on a wheelchair on loan from a friend in Uttar Pradesh

New Delhi: From wheel-chair cricket to arm wrestling bronze in the National open championship before settling down in badminton to make a mark, it has been an inspirational journey for Gyan Prakash Sharma who interestingly will be competing in the Khelo India Para Games for the first time and that too on a wheelchair on loan from a friend in Uttar Pradesh.

Gyan, a resident of Patna in Bihar but now a regular member of Uttar Pradesh squad, who has paralysis since birth in both legs, took one sport emotionally to heart – badminton. Importantly, he is now keen to further grow and excel in badminton taking part in the Khelo India Para Games for the first time here.

---

The MBA graduate who plays in the wheelchair (SL4) category is the only wheelchair badminton player from Bihar to participate in the second edition Games here.

“The Para National Championship of Badminton was held in Lucknow in 2023. At the time, I was working for a company that was managing hospitality at the venue of the tournament. I used to meet players, match officials and referees,” he said.

Gyan, whose father is a farmer, then went on to be crowned Bihar champion in his category in 2024 and then participated in the Senior National Para Championship held in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.

“It was my first tournament. I reached the pre-quarterfinals among 64 players in my category. Based on this, I was selected for the second edition of the Khelo India Para Games. It is because of this that I am here today to see how much care is taken for the disabled players.,” he said.

“My career as an arm wrestler was just a coincidence. One of my friends from Madhya Pradesh is Rinku. He once jokingly asked me to try arm wrestling. I tried it and he could not beat me. After this, he advised me to take part in the sport. He told me that the Open Championship is being held in Indore. I went there unprepared and won the bronze medal!”

“For the sake of my family, sometimes I do not practice regularly. I am trying for an assistant professor’s job, but badminton is always on my mind. I want to make a name for myself in this and Khelo India Para Games is my milestone in this journey,” he said.