Life throws up constant challenges at Krishna Nagar but the Indian shuttlers know how to take it in stride, laugh at adversity, adapt and win.
When he was bullied as a child because of his short height, Krishna responded to his achievements. Krishna refused to interfere with the situation of dwarfism.
This is the best way to shut up the haters.
Despite financial struggles in his early years, he explored a variety of sports, including cricket, football, volleyball, long jump, and sprinting. His journey in badminton started in late 2017 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
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He created history at the Tokyo Paralympics by becoming only the second Indian, after gold medalist Pramod Bhagat, to make his Olympic debut unforgettable.
As she prepares to defend her title, the 25-year-old from Jaipur is focused on keeping her composure and playing safe to replicate her success when she takes the court at the Paris Games.
“This is the second Paralympics, and there is some nervousness because it is a big tournament,” Krishna, who competes in the SH6 category, said in an interview.
The SH6 category is for shorter athletes, who compete standing.
“It is a dream to participate in such a prestigious event. I feel blessed to have another chance at the Paralympics. The main goal is to defend the gold medal and live up to expectations,” he said.
About 4 feet 6 inches tall, Krishna is one of 13 Indian badminton players who will compete in Paris.
Life was not easy for him even after the success of Tokyo. If an injury threatens to derail his progress, losing his mother is an even bigger setback.
But strong athletes have no choice but to rise again.
Talking about his preparations, he said, “I twisted my ankle after the Tokyo Paralympics and faced some other problems, but now everything is fine. The game is evolving, and I am focusing on adapting my style to different situations and opponents. fast or slow, I have to keep positive, keep the shuttle, and execute the smash safely.” Krishna, who trains under coach Yadvendra Singh in Jaipur, won his first Para World Championship title in February this year in Thailand, defeating China’s Lin Naili in the final.
“It’s important to stay positive, play safe, and stay calm. There are new players this time, and the competition is tougher. We have to be more agile and play fast and positive,” he emphasized.
Coping with Personal Loss
Krishna faced the biggest challenge of his life when his mother died just six months after the Tokyo victory. While the loss was difficult to overcome, her strong support system helped her through the difficult times.
“Losing my mother is devastating. It was a dream that I did something for her, but she died after the Paralympics. Now it’s better, and I’m playing again. It’s time to heal,” he reflected.
Krishna will be the only Indian badminton player to defend his title in Paris following the suspension of compatriot Pramod Bhagat, the five-time world champion, due to a clause violation earlier this month.
When asked if the absence of Bhagat added pressure on him, Krishna replied, “Not at all. It is the blessings and support of the people, the government, PCI and BAI that have brought us this far. I know Pramod Bhaiya won ‘ Not this time, but I will do my best.”
“If I overthink it, it will only hurt my performance. There’s nothing bigger than this, so that’s my goal.” Krishna admits that Tokyo’s success changed his life.
“Life has changed completely since then. People have started to recognize badminton and the Paralympics. In Tokyo, it was a great opportunity for us, there was a lot of excitement and curiosity. It was the first time, and I was nervous, but gradually things fell into place.
“This time, it will be the same. After we arrive, we will acclimatise, and it will be normal. Until then, there will be anxiety about the court situation and drift, but it is part of the process,” he said.
The Indian badminton team is scheduled to leave for Paris on August 25.
