Manasi Joshi bagged gold and won the BWF Para-Badminton World Championships.
PV Sindhu grabbed all media attention on Sunday after she made history winning gold at the BWF World Championships.
She completely obliterated Nozomi Okuhara 21-7, 21-7 in just 38 minutes and went on to become the first Indian shuttler to win the tournament.
While the whole nation praised the young athlete for her achievements, many were not aware that para-badminton champion, Manasi Joshi also bagged gold and won the BWF Para-Badminton World Championships the previous day.
On Saturday, Joshi won her first gold by defeating compatriot Parul Parmer 21-12, 21-7 in the women's singles. Joshi had faced Parmer three times this year, and each time, she'd lost, Nevertheless, this time she emerged victoriously.
So who is Manasi Joshi?
1. Who is Manasi Joshi?
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Manasi Joshi is an Indian Para-Badminton athlete who is currently World No. 2 among singles.
She was six when she started playing badminton. It was in 2011 when she met with a road accident and lost her left leg.
Later on, in September 2015, she won a Silver Medal in Mixed doubles at the Para-Badminton World Championship held in Stoke Mandeville, England.
Her Achievements:
2015 Silver medal in mixed doubles Para-Badminton World Championships
2016 Bronze in Para-Badminton Asian Championships women's singles & women's doubles
2017 Bronze in women's singles Para-Badminton World Championships
2018 Bronze medal in women's singles at Thailand Para-Badminton International
2018 Bronze medal in women's singles in Asian Para Games 2018
2019 Gold medal in women's single in Para Olympics
Tournament update: Wonderful few days at the BWF Para-badminton World Championships. Stoked to have won the Gold with exactly #1YearToGo for #Tokyo2020 Paralympics.
— Manasi Nayana Joshi (@joshimanasi11) August 25, 2019
Also, PV Sindhu, you are GOAT! Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/njB3XhNcVP
2. Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju met the para-badminton Athletes
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On Tuesday, Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju handed cheques worth Rs 1.82 crore to the para-badminton winners.
The gold medal winners got Rs 20 lakh each while silver and bronze medallist took home Rs 14 lakh and Rs 8 lakh, respectively. Winners in doubles events were given Rs 15 lakh each for gold, Rs 10.5 lakh each for silver and Rs 6 lakh each for bronze.
"We want to ensure that all athletes are meted out the same facilities by the government. The para-badminton team has performed very well and brought glory to the country. They deserve to be rewarded for their hard work," Rijiju had said.
He even tweeted about their meet saying, "My happiness knows no bounds and it's beyond words as I felicitated our Para-Badminton player on winning 12 Medals at World Championship. A major decision is taken by the Sports Ministry today. We will award handsome cash money to the players at the time of arrival itself".
My happiness knows no bounds and it's beyond words as I felicitated our Para-Badminton player on winning 12 Medals at World Championship. A major decision is taken by Sports Ministry today. We will award handsome cash money to the players at the time of arrival itself. pic.twitter.com/P18LawSiRf
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 27, 2019
However, one of the athlete, Sukant Kadam - who finished with bronze at the championship - took to Twitter and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet the athletes. The request came after the PM had tweeted photos of himself with PV Sindhu - who had won gold.
He wrote, "Honorable @narendramodi sir, We Para-Badminton Athletes also won 12 medals in Para-Badminton World Championship and we also want your blessings. Request you to allow us to meet as we missed a chance after Asian Games@PramodBhagat83 @joshimanasi11 @manojshuttler @GauravParaCoach".
Honorable @narendramodi sir,
— Sukant Kadam (@sukant9993) August 27, 2019
We Para Badminton Athletes also won 12 medals in Para-Badminton World Championship and we also want your blessings.Request you to allow us to meet as we missed a chance aftr Asian Games@PramodBhagat83 @joshimanasi11 @manojshuttler @GauravParaCoach https://t.co/1zCqE91VAh
3. Netizens praised the para-athletes and wanted Joshi's victory to be celebrated just as Sindhu's
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Once the news of Joshi's victory came out, netizens weren't happy with biasness towards the differently-abled. While many praised the para-athletes, some urged others to celebrate Joshi's victory the way they did Sindhu's.
And let’s not forget to acknowledge this GOLD too! #ManasiJoshi
— taapsee pannu (@taapsee) August 27, 2019
Para Badminton World Champion pic.twitter.com/y8QMUAKwX5
In the high of PV Sindhu getting Gold in world championship, we forgot to wish #ManasiJoshi, who won Gold in World Para Badminton championship!
— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) August 28, 2019
Here is it wishing her..: pic.twitter.com/wOW5zjy20c
Manasi Joshi deserves the same respect and attention like PV Sindhu from the govt, stars and public. Salute to her. https://t.co/2VxyNgsbw8
— Varinder Bansal (@varinder_bansal) August 27, 2019
In the high of PV Sindhu getting Gold in world championship, we forgot to wish Manasi Joshi, who won Gold in World Para Badminton championship! pic.twitter.com/zGSxKWew56
— Anjali Dwivedi/Reva (@BeingReva) August 27, 2019
Manasi Joshi won gold in para badminton. She deserves the same appreciation as PV Sindhu got #respectpic.twitter.com/RxwanOWjue
— Prabhas (@Mirchi_Prabhas) August 27, 2019
