As the fifth edition of the BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year (ISWOTY) Award approaches, both Rakshitha and Simran embody resilience and serve as role models for aspiring athletes facing similar challenges.
Empowering Visions: The Journey of Blind Athletes in India
Empowering Visions: The Journey of Blind Athletes in India
Discover the inspiring stories of Rakshitha Raju and Simran Sharma, two blind Indian athletes who are breaking barriers and redefining possibilities in para athletics.
Rakshitha Raju, a blind Indian middle-distance runner, has shifted perceptions in her village through her athletic success. After overcoming personal tragedies, including the loss of her parents at a young age, Rakshitha’s journey into sports began with encouragement from a school teacher. With the help of her guide runner, Rahul Balakrishna, she has won multiple gold medals at Asian Games and became the first blind Indian woman to compete in the 1500m at the Paralympics. Though they faced challenges, including an unsuccessful Paralympic run in France, Rakshitha and Rahul share a strong bond based on trust. Likewise, Simran Sharma, another visually impaired athlete, transformed her racing career through her partnership with guide runner Abhay Kumar. After initial struggles, including disqualification in her first race due to misunderstandings of race rules, she went on to win a bronze medal in the 200m at the Paris Paralympics. Both athletes advocate for more recognition and support for guide runners, sharing their hopes for future competitions and inspiring young athletes in their communities.
