New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) Aged 10, Sukant Kadam fell on a cricket field and it altered the course of his life. A severe knee injury, followed by multiple surgeries, left him severely disabled and kept him away from sports for nearly a decade. More than two decades later, the mechanical engineer-turned-para shuttler is poised to make his debut at the Paris Paralympics, determined to bring home a medal for India.
"I didn't understand the gravity of the situation then," Kadam, who competes in the SL4 category for athletes with standing/low mobility impairments, told PTI during an interview. "I focused on my studies and earned a mechanical engineering degree. It was during college that I got exposed to so many sports, and that's when badminton caught my attention.
" The sport gave him a new direction in life, and after completing his education, the 31-year-old dedicated himself fully to building a career in para-badminton. "My dream was just to have India written on my T-shirt," he said. "I could never have imagined coming this far.
Now, my focus is on returning with a medal from the Games." Reflecting on his early years, Kadam shared how he quickly adapted to his new reality. "Because I was 10, it was easy to accept and adapt in day-to-day life.
I didn't understand that this was a major setback; I wasn't thinking about it that much," he said. Kadam's journey was not without challenges, including facing discrimination. "It's difficult to say no to that," he admitted.
"But growing up.