Manish Pandey, an amputee, bagged two medals for India at the Tunisia Grand Prix

When Manish Pandey lost his right leg in a train accident in 2011, little did he think that he’d one day be competing in the international sports circuit. But the 22-year-old is doing just that. Manish, who represents Hyderabad, bagged two medals for India in his maiden appearance on the international circuit at the IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Tunisia.

Manish, who now has his sights set on the Asian Paralympics to be held in South Korea in October, qualified to compete in the T-44 category and went on to bag the silver medal in the 200 meter sprint on June 16 and bronze in the 100 meter two days later. “This was my first international competition and I’m happy with the results. It has helped me qualify for the Asian Paralympics to be held in October,” he says.

Four years back when Manish was returning home after writing an exam, he got pushed out of the train. “I remember it was the World Cup finals that day and I wanted to watch the match so I chose to go by local train to reach earlier. It was crowded and I accidentally got pushed out of the train, which ran over my leg. However, I didn’t want this to stop me. I had always actively participated in sports. So I began to focus on creating a career in sports,” he says.

But with no clue about how to go about things, Manish went to Bangalore in 2012 for trials where he met Ratan Singh, a member of the Paralympics Committee. “He shared tips with me and told me that while I had the talent, I needed a blade to be able to run. However, this prosthetic costs around Rs. 3 or 4 lakh. Finally, towards the end of 2013 I was approached by Mohana Gandhi of Dakshin Rehab; he offered to help me. Ever since, I have been in the city, practising and representing it in competitions,” says Manish.

While he is supported by the foundation, he says that there is no government funding for them. “For the Tunisia Paralympics I needed Rs. 1.5 lakh and I borrowed from family and friends to be able to participate. Dakshin Rehab also supported me. This lack of funding also means that I cannot afford to have anybody to monitor my training or diet. I take tips from peers and by watching athletes by like Oscar Pistorius and Usain Bolt,” he says, adding that he trains for two hours every morning in the gym and another two hours at the stadium every evening.

Manish, who hopes to bag a gold at the 2016 Paralympics, says that he hopes to find a sponsor. Until then the athlete, who has made Hyderabad his home, says, “It is the perfect place for me. I busy with practice. My parents continue to live in Chhattisgarh, but I have some cousins here so I feel quite at home.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / June 28th, 2014