Inspirational Stories: From Fractured Dreams to Sporting Victories! Know the Inspiring Journey of THIS Para Athlete

Inspirational Stories: Nisha Gupta recalls a joyful childhood. The 32-year-old Mumbai resident claims that she never sat down and was constantly playing with her brothers and friends. She was climbing a wall with her brothers to pick mangoes during a family trip to her village when she slipped, fell, and fractured her spine.

From Hopeful Teen to Confined Depression

“I was only 18 years old and had just finished my board exams. At that age, I thought everything would be fine and I would get better like people do when they fracture their arm or leg. I did not realise then that I would be wheelchair-bound for the rest of my life,” says Nisha. After undergoing spinal chord surgery, she was confined to her house for over four years, where she watched TV, slept, and descended into depression. “People in my home state (Uttar Pradesh) had a very different point of view from me. I am a girl and one who got into an accident. They thought that my life was over and that I could not do anything now. Boys will be given help, but girls are treated as they can just stay at home and not do anything else,” she says. She claims that after suffering an injury, her friends—who had at first been encouraging—drifted apart.

Nisha Gupta's Inspirational Journey

Participating in numerous activities and meeting others who were similar to her was a turning point. Oliver, her mentor and fellow wheelchair user, pushed her to become more independent. “He taught me to travel alone. He said that I could ask someone at home to help me sit in a taxi or auto, and that there would be someone to help me get out of the auto, when I reached my destination. I felt independent and got more motivated,” Nisha shares. She added, “It was Oliver who encouraged me to start building my strength and to participate in sports. He suggested I start swimming. It was when I signed up for a competition at the Dharavi Sports Club that I realised there are many people like me who are active in sports. I started swimming there regularly. Along the way, I developed an interest in basketball and started training regularly.” Nisha now plays basketball internationally and competes in swimming competitions at the national level. She has won three swimming gold medals at the state level and three swimming bronze medals at the national level.

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