It was yet another triumph for India’s only para climber Manikandan Kumar. On Friday 24 th June
2016, he won a silver at the IFSC Climbing Cup at Campitello di Fassa, Italy. He is the first and only Indian climber to have won 2 golds and 7 silvers in international para-climbing competitions.
His is a story of perseverance, grit and triumph of the human spirit. Afflicted with polio at the age of
5, Manikandan started climbing at the age of 16. In 2002, the year started training; he was still nursing severe polio in his right leg and used a calliper for movement and support.
By 2012, Mani was a world champion in his sport. Representing India at the IFSC ParaClimbing WorldChampionships in Paris, he won the gold medal. In 2014 he won the silver at IFSC Para climbing world championship, Gijon-Spain.
Mani’s immediate goal is to win the gold at the IFSC ParaClimbing World Championships to be held later this year. If he manages this feat, he will be the first climber in the history of the sport to win the world championship twice.
Interestingly para-climbing is still to be recognized as a separate sport in India. In Indian climbing competitions, Mani competes with able bodied climbers and ranks among the top 10 Indian climbers. As a trainer he also works with some of the best climbers in the country and encourages them to compete at the international level to win laurels for the country.
Para climbing as a sport is likely to be introduced in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Mani believes that this will bring in state sponsorship and greater recognition to the sport in India.
Competing in any sport at the international level can be expensive. Largely supported by GETHNAA (General Thimayya National Academy of Adventure), IMF (Indian Mountaineering Foundation), funding remains a major concern for Mani. This year Mani has received funding support from One Good Step and Swasthi Charitable Trust who have risen to help Mani to pursue his dreams.
Mani believes that corporate sponsorship could go a long way in helping climbers go professional.Lack of funding, he says often drives many climbers to look for alternate careers.
Mani is now eagerly awaiting an official declaration by the International Olympic Association on the inclusion of climbing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. With support from the state, corporate houses and sponsors, he believes that Indian climbers can do exceptionally well at the event.
As a professional climber, he aspires to win an Olympic gold for India .
On the other hand, as a professional trainer, he hopes to form and train a para climbing team that will represent the nation at the 2020 Olympics.
One Good Step salutes this Indian sports champion and his winning spirit. Like him we also believe that “there are no shortcuts in life. Success comes with hard work and persistence.”
– Authored by Meenakshi Ravi