Yeah, once upon a time, I thought Madhavi and sports are two different worlds.

So, everyone around me thought that a person like me should not participate in sports.

Even the playground, going there also, people used to, uh tell me, advise me not to go there, thinking that while players playing, if they fall on me, then it will be a problem.

So that was the situation.

So, I thought that it won't be possible for me.

But uh in 2006 uh 2007, when I met doctor with severe back pain.

Uh I was, I'm working in a bank and so um naturally we need to sit for longer hours.

So, at that time it became very difficult, even 5 minutes was uh very difficult thing for me.

So then uh when I approached one orthopaedic surgeon, he told my lifespan would be one year in the absence of spinal surgery.

Even the success chances of surgery were minimal considering uh my age and the compression level in the spine.

So we didn't want to go for surgery because we were not sure about the results.

So then we went to a physiotherapist and luckily he suggested uh hydrotherapy for me.

So that transformed my life.

And uh first time I entered into life—I entered into swimming pool just to save my life.

Uh be…because we didn't have any other options, my parents allowed me.

Till that time they didn't allow me to go near to the water also, thinking that it's dangerous.

But after I entered into the pool, I realized that's the best place for me.

I can make movements easily due to water buoyancy.

Uh right now I can do so many things in water like yoga, dance, or exercises, apart from normal swimming.

So that comfort, water gave me.

So for me that's the most favourite place.

And then uh I uh uh started participating in one Corporate Olympiad, where I was the only participant with the disability.

So they gave me, first time and I completed 100m freestyle, none of them expected that one.

So when I completed, they gave me Most Encouraging Sports Person Award.

So that was like uh in my late 30s.

First time I got that type of award I never—which I never expected.

So, then I came to know about this Paralympics.

And uh, with a lot of effort I approached Paralympic Swimming Federation of India officials.

And then when he came here, Chennai, we met him with all our well-wishers.

Uh then at the time he suggested, why don't you people start uh Paralympic Swimming Association in Tamil Nadu.

So through our trust we supported that formation.

And uh I was uh the Founder General Secretary.

So we arranged uh various training camps and we sensitized coaches, because swimming is same almost for everyone.

But whenever, depending on the type of disability, what type of additional things they need to take care.

So that point, we arranged some sensitization sessions.

And then, uh almost in Tamil Nadu nooks and corners, we worked with government Rural Development Department.

Uh with one WHO project they were working on that.

So with that uh um we could train uh almost 300 uh people in swimming.

And some of them became international swimmers also.

And national swimmers, many of them are there.

And then one UK-based NGO when they approached me for promoting wheelchair basketball in India.

So I like that concept, because it's a team game.

So swimming is different, it's individual and so our definitely physical and mental health will be improved.

But uh when we are playing team game, uh we can uh inculcate leadership skills and team spirit among persons with disabilities.

Normally, if you see in the society uh rarely they are getting such type of opportunities.

Because people may not have that much confidence in giving them such opportunities.

Because no one is giving; even persons with disabilities also may not have that confidence.

So that's why I like that one, and we started, and that too it's a very energetic and dynamic game.

So we started uh supporting that, we arranged some camps here in Chennai.

After seeing that impact uh the sport had, and the players who came from rural areas.

Within just 7 day camp how much confidence it gave.

After seeing that we thought, no no it should not stop—stopped only with Chennai,

It should be taken to the entire country.

So, in that way with likeminded people all together formed Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India.

And we could reach out to 24 states, more than 700 uh persons with disabilities.

We could introduce this sport, and so many things first time.

Because it's naturally, earlier it was there in some rehabilitation centres like that.

So we brought it to the reach of all common people outside the rehabilitation centres.

And uh uh everything sending international—uh our women team for international camps.

Our under 23 men's team for World Championship qualifiers.

Taking our men and women team for so many Asian Games qualifiers, Paralympic qualifiers.

Like that many things uh we could do and now I worked as uh president for two terms.

And now present team is also with uh lot of passion they are taking it forward.

So, in this entire journey, the challenges, main challenge is lack of awareness.

So awareness starts from parents, family members and uh even the persons with disabilities, they don't know.

When I gave talks at various places, even people working in big big companies like that,

They don't know they can also participate in this type of sports, who are sitting in cities.

So there is a great need to create awareness.

Uh even doctor told in 2007 my lifespan would be one year.

Now it is 2024, so almost 17 years uh passed.

So that means uh how much important sports uh and how much helpful they are.

But unfortunately, even parents are also thinking for wheelchair basketball also, we found it very difficult to bring in teenagers, because parents think that already my child is in a bad condition, it will become for worse further, due to participation in sports, if they get any injury.

But uh we can't get scared like that because even while walking on the road anything can happen to us.

But there are so many benefits, they will get lot of exposure, overall development, personality development will happen.

They will see other people, they will get confidence.

PE level mentoring will happen.

Uh initially some girls who came for our wheelchair basketball camps with the family members.

They started coming alone after that, even boys.

After seeing others how they are managing independently, they learn from each other.

So lot of good things are there that parents need to realize and support them.

And when it comes to facility owners, unfortunately, they, they need not do big big things, just accessibility part.

One toilet should be accessible, ramp should be in reach and for entrance all those things should be accessible.

But that awareness should be created.

And once they start playing, they are like any other play—player.

So they should be given proper recognition.

And uh sports like wheelchair basketball where sports wheelchairs are required.

Uh in our country uh manufacturing is not happening.

We need to import, the cost will be more.

And import, for importing also that process is a big uh thing.

So uh all these things, if people start from here itself, uh manufacturing chairs

And particularly suitable for our Indian environment.

If we have chairs, we can bring in more players.

Because right now, those chairs are only meant for indoor wooden courts.

And we will find very few wooden courts in India.

And they uh already uh running basketball players, they are struggling to get the place.

And getting place, many facility owners, they may not be ready to give wheelchair users,

thinking that, that place will get damaged.

It won't happen, the chairs are meant for that type of court.

But still uh people are hesitating.

So that's why lot of awareness should be created.

So that's the main concern.

Once awareness is created, all the required support will come automatically.