Willpower helps shuttler Palak Kohli to make a comeback to Paralympics after surgery
Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, August 9
Ace shuttler Palak Kohli has seen many ups and downs in the life. She has a deformed left arm since birth but she has never given up despite the comments passed against her.
A chance meeting with Lucknow-based badminton coach Gaurav Khanna outside a shop in Jalandhar changed her life. He picked and trained her as a promising Paralympic player. With intense training sessions, she became the youngest member of the Indian contingent to have made it to Tokyo Paralympics. She has again made an entry to Paris Paralympics starting on August 24.
Palak has qualified for two events — Women’s Singles and Mixed Doubles with UP-based IPS officer Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj, who is ranked World No.1 in Men’s Singles. She has made a comeback after undergoing a major surgery to remove a bone tumour two years back and remaining on wheelchair for months which is the victory of her willpower.
Her father Mahesh Kohli, who is a businessman, said, “We do not even want to remember that tormentous time. She underwent several sessions of physiotherapy and intense care to be back in the court. I just know that God has been with her and it is He who got her back into form and made her qualify for the biggest international event for the second time that too at such a tender age of 21.” Palak has been a student of St Joseph’s Convent School here till Class X.
She switched to Police DAV School post her matriculation. A tougher time came for her as she had to skip her CBSE Plus Two examination as the date-sheet clashed with the schedule of a qualifying tournament for Tokyo Paralympics held at Peru. She dropped that year and appeared for her boards in the subsequent year.
“Thankfully, she has completed her online BBA course from Chandigarh University this year”, said her father.
Talking about his daughter’s dedication towards game, Kohli said, “Palak had last visited home a year back. The occasion was the roka ceremony of her brother. She came, attended the function and left the next day. We have scheduled our son’s wedding post Paralympics so that she is here and is able to attend it. I have a strong hunch that some happy moments are lined up for us in the days to come. No one from our family will be accompanying her as she leaves for Paris on August 21 but our prayers will always be with her.”
Paris Paralympics starts on Aug 24
- Jalandhar player Palak Kohli (pic) leaves for Paris on August 21 to take part in the event starting from August 24
- Had undergone a major surgery to remove a bone tumour two years back and remained on wheelchair for months
- Palak has qualified for two events — Women’s Singles and Mixed Doubles with UP-based IPS officer Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj, who is ranked World No.1 in Men’s Singles
- She became the youngest member of the Indian contingent to have made it to Tokyo Paralympics.
