Para Athletics: Mother’s support, grit carries Bhavani to double gold in Czech Republic Grand Prix

Para Athletics: Mother’s support, grit carries Bhavani to double gold in Czech Republic Grand Prix


For a long time, para athlete Valasamgari Bhavani had to be content with a silver or a bronze both at the national and international meets. And, so when this 26-year-old completed a golden double winning the 200m first and then the 100 m (in T-46 category) on consecutive days in the very first women only World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Czech Republic on Friday, her joy knew no bounds, understandably too.

Fate has been cruel to Bhavani, who was good as a kid in school playing kho kho and kabaddi in her native village of Muthukur in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh when tragedy struck her in 2009,  she accidentally touched an electric wire when she climbed on to a water tanker to see her right hand suffer severe damage and worse her father, Chandraiah (a fisherman), who tried to protect her, succumbed to the electric shock on the spot.

A tragedy which could have completely demoralised any one of Bhavani’s age when she was 10 and just dreaming to make it big in the world of sport. And, with mother Bujjamma, working on daily wages in a hotel, the financial woes of this little family (she has an elder brother who lives separately) could have easily stopped any parent in encouraging the kid to continue passion in sport.

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But, the double blow of losing her right arm and her father made Bhavani doubly determined, with the gutsy mother backing her dreams despite all odds.

Yes, after staying away from any sport for five years,  during which it was her mother who kept motivating her, after that terrible accident, Bhavani saw a newspaper clipping about a District meet for para athletes and participated in it. That turned out to be the beginning of a new chapter in her career. 

With the AP Para Sports Association President G. Venkateshwara Rao and the general secretary V. Ramaswamy backing her indefatigable spirit to make it big in sport, this brave heart pursued her sporting career with renewed hope and vigour and making slow and steady progress since 2021 winning medals consistently at different levels.

“I have never won a gold even in the Nationals. So, winning two gold in the Czech Republic will stand out as truly special. For, not only the long wait has ended but also has given me a lot of hope to dream big and chase the 2028 Paralympic Games (she missed the 2024 Paris edition selections because of an injury on her left-knee),” Bhavani informed in a telephonic chat.

“Honestly, for years I have been training day in and out daily for six hours and so these two gold are the result of all that,” the champion athlete said.

“Yes, I owe everything to my coach Zaseem (at District Sports Authority in Nellore) for his mentorship and always believing in me,” said a grateful Bhavani, who herself worked part time in packing section of a palm oil company in Nellore to make a living for some time. “Now, we survive on the State Government pension of about Rs 6000,” she said.

Bhavani, who completed B.Com in Aditya College (Nellore), is hopeful of getting a State Government job thanks to the new Sports Policy which offers a three per cent quota for sportspersons with outstanding achievements.

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Incidentally, 26-year-old Bhavani’s trip to Czech Republic and the training before that was possible thanks to the financial assistance of Rs. 1 lakh by an NRIs Cell.

“Well, last year because of the left knee injury I couldn’t attend the 2024 Paralympics selections. And, since I couldn’t afford to get treated in any big corporate hospital, I visited Chaitanya Hospital in Ongole where a senior doctor was kind enough to treat me and provide the much needed relief,” she said.

Bhavani reveals that since she lost her right arm in the accident, she has to generate power and speed with the left hand bearing the brunt and the two legs sharing the load too.

“It is obviously painful after every sprint. But, since my dad always wished me to be good at sports, I just try to forget about the pain and stay focussed as I am determined to do really well in sports,” she said.

Not surprisingly, when Bhavani made a video call to her mother after the first gold in the 200m, the emotions of the proud parent were understandable. “She just kept crying. She couldn’t just believe and at the same time that joy of me winning the gold was truly special for her for all the sacrifices she made for me,” recalls Bhavani. 

In fact, the para athlete was scheduled to compete in the long jump event too in Czech Republic but since the Bengaluru International meet is from July 10, Bhavani decided to skip that and return to India.

“Well, the mission is partly accomplished. Now, the focus will be on Paralympics gold for sure and before that the Para Asiad too,” signed off a visibly delighted and confident Bhavani.



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