They say, ‘strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.’ Palak Kohli truly defines the saying. She was born with one hand and learned to live with the disability. A random person suggested that Palak should play badminton. It was strange for her to be in sports as she had never played before. Still, she decided to take sports as her career. Years passed, and now she is the youngest Paralympic qualifier.
For her, the journey was nothing but a far-fetched dream. She didn’t know it would happen to her. Many challenges crossed her path, but despite the physical, mental, and emotional challenges, she dared to dream big and even achieved it. Do you want to know how? Let us hear her story.
Palak Kohli – My Story
I’m Palak Kohli. Recently, I became the youngest Indian badminton player qualified for the Paralympic. If I tell you about my journey, I would say I didn’t choose badminton. Instead, it chose me. Badminton came as a blessing in my life. Since my birth, I was termed disabled by society because I was born with one hand only.
It was tough to deal with the negative mindset of society and the people around me. I have faced backbiting from teachers and other students. People ignored me like I didn’t exist, or they would sympathize with me for being damaged. Some said it on my face, and some expressed it behind my back. But the talks were always there in the air. I used to feel disappointed, but I wanted to prove my worth by achieving something great in my life.
I didn’t know it would happen that soon. One day, I was coming out of a mall with my mother and brother. I met a person, and he asked me, ‘What happened to your arm?’ I was pretty familiar with this question. So I didn’t take it seriously and shrugged it off by saying, ‘It is by birth.’ He comforted me and said, ‘Why don’t you play sports? Play para-badminton. You look quite young. I think you can play well.’ Throughout the conversation, he educated me about badminton and Paralympics. I was surprised because I had never thought about playing sports. It was a new thing for me to digest.
Like me, my mother was also surprised, but the person went on and on about badminton. He somehow convinced my mother to allow me to play badminton. My mother took his contact number before heading back home. This particular incident changed the course of my life.
After that incident, my parents wanted me to give it a try, but I was skeptical. So I didn’t think about it. A while later, I began to consider the idea. I thought that I should try this sport. My parents were surprised when I revealed it to them. They didn’t think I would take it seriously, even though I didn’t know about it. I had never imagined that one day I would be interested in playing a sport. However, at that point in my life, I was determined enough to give it a try.
Then we got to meet the same gentleman named Gaurav Saroj, who I met in 2016. At that time, I realized that this world was so small. You never know what can make your day. Next weekend, my father made a plan, and we went to Lucknow. We took the trip to decide on my upcoming education course along with my badminton training. This minor incident changed my perspective towards life, and I began to look at it differently.
I shifted to Lucknow, and they started my training. The faculty made small targets for me. It was a different experience putting together, holding badminton, and playing it. I loved doing it. Frankly, I was never an ambitious girl, although I wanted to prove my worth only by being self-dependent. However, badminton made it huge for me. I began to dream about it. It felt great to have a dream in my life.
I started practicing in 2017, and in 2018 I was chosen to play badminton on a national level in Varanasi, close to Lucknow. The fact that I was going to play nationals thrilled me. I became super excited, so I went to my classmates and shared it with them. Everyone congratulated me.
Much to my dismay, the invigilator didn’t allow me to go for a national-level championship. I was very disappointed. He made me understand that this wasn’t the right time for me. I need to practice more if I want to play and win nationals. I asked him, ‘When will the right moment come?’ and said, ‘I will let you know.’
My parents also trusted his judgment, so I left everything on him. It took me a while to get over the disappointment, but with time it was gone. I turned my attention to my game, and I started practicing more and more. I gave my everything in it. In 2019, he allowed me to play. I was so happy when I heard the news. I played my first national, and I became the national champion of the junior’s second runner-up mixed doubles.
I was so delighted as I had achieved the target he had set for me. My coach was cheerful too. After the match, he smiled and said, ‘Be prepared, Palak, because the next target is ready for you.’ I was called for the Paralympics, and from here, a new phase of my life began.
I didn’t have any sponsors for national tournaments to sponsor me. The Asian country tournaments gave a small amount, and then a European company supported me financially. With their support, I qualified for the Paralympics. Till now, I have won many national and international medals. The journey has been challenging but great too.
In the end, I want to say life happens. You never know what comes next. No person is imperfect; disability only exists in our mind, not in our body. We put restrictions, lose our self-confidence, and society takes advantage of our vulnerability. So don’t be vulnerable, be confident, love yourself, set higher goals, and dream big. They do come true.
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