Selected to lead India in Malaysia, Telangana Para Captain Gadipally Prasanth seeks support
Prasanth won a bronze in the Asian para throwball championship
Hyderabad: For Gadipally Prasanth from Raiparthy mandal in Warangal district of Telangana, it has been a journey dotted with career-threatening challenges which he eventually has overcome with grit and determination to make a name in the world of para sports.
Born in a middle-class family, Prasanth’s father passed away when he was studying Intermediate at Social Welfare Boys Junior College in Mulugu.
However, he did remarkably well in academics having completed B.Tech at Thalla Padmavathi Engineering College in Kazipet and M.Tech at Vaagdevi Engineering College in Bollikunta.
Now, the 32-year-old Prasanth is doing Ph.D. in Neural Networks under the guidance of Prof. Sitaram Sir at Chaitanya Deemed to be University.
“For 13 years I have been participating in para sports before financial issues forced me to stop for some time. Then, I resumed again at the age of 18, starting with athletics and won medals at the national-level,” Prasanth informed ‘Telangana Today’.
“Then, due to lack of proper training, I discontinued athletics and started playing cricket and represented the Rest of India four times. But, I realized that cricket for specially challenged does not receive much support,” he said.
“Then, my focus shifted to para sitting volleyball in 2012 and have been doing consistently well at the State and the National-levels and even won a gold in the 2014 Nationals. However, despite being selected to represent India, I couldn’t represent the country because of lack of financial support” Prasanth revealed even while thanking his coach Singarapu Babu.
“I have also played in the 2023 November in Cairo after taking a personal loan of Rs. 4 lakhs,” said the para athlete from Income Tax Department. “For the second time, I was selected as captain of the Indian team for the 2025 Para Volleyball (sitting) in the USA. And, till today, no recognition for participating in two World Cups in a four-year cycle,” he moaned.
Interestingly, Prasanth also won a bronze in the Asian para throwball championship.
“Now, I have been selected as captain of the Indian team for the second 2026 Asian Para throwball championship 2026 in Malaysia from June 2 and looking for support again,” he said.
“In 2018, I established the Para Athletics Association of Telangana and have been serving as its Founder and General Secretary. My ultimate goal is to win a Paralympics gold,” he signed off.
