Once confined by severe spinal cord injuries from road accidents, Anjali Thakur and Vidya Kumari have shattered barriers to become international para-athletes with support from Chandigarh Spinal Rehab centre.
Their lives were drastically altered by road accidents that left them with severe spinal cord injuries. But Anjali Thakur and Vidya Kumari overcame their physical limitations and rose to international acclaim as para-athletes. Vidya is also India’s first Swiggy delivery girl on a wheelchair, a role that symbolises her relentless determination to break barriers.
The two sportspersons have transformed their lives through support and rigorous training at Chandigarh Spinal Rehab, emerging as champions in their respective sports, proving that with resilience and the right backing, anything is possible.
Anjali, a 25-year-old quadriplegic athlete from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, had once dreamed of joining the military. Her aspirations were crushed in 2018 when a road crash resulted in a C4-C5 spine injury, leaving her dependent on her family for four long years.
Anjali’s life took a remarkable turn in 2022 when she began her rehabilitation at Chandigarh Spinal Rehab. It was here that she discovered boccia, a ball sport designed for athletes with severe physical disabilities.
The game is played on a flat, smooth surface, where players or teams take turns throwing leather balls as close as possible to a target ball, known as the jack. Boccia can be played individually, in pairs, or in teams of three. Boccia is also a Paralympic sport, highlighting its significance in the world of adaptive sports.
Anjali won gold in individual boccia at the National Championships in New Delhi (2023) and Indore (2024), and secured a silver in Pair Boccia at the 2023 Delhi Nationals. She also participated in the 2023 Para Asian Games and the Hong Kong International Championship.
Under the guidance of her coaches, Anjali’s dedication and hard work paid off when she made history by winning the first-ever gold medal for India at the World Boccia Challenger in Cairo in 2024 as a para-athlete.
Also Read: This paralympian battled odds to smash records
“Boccia is not just a sport for me; it’s a new life. Winning a gold medal in Cairo was like a dream come true,” she said. With her sights set on the Asian Para Games in Japan in 2026 and the Paralympics in 2028, Anjali’s journey of transformation continues to be inspirational.
Vidya, a 34-year-old para table tennis player from Samastipur in Bihar, faced her own life-altering event 16 years ago when a fall from a bridge while cycling home from school resulted in a devastating spinal cord injury.
For 11 years, Vidya was confined to her home, battling depression and hopelessness. Her life began to change when she entered Chandigarh Spinal Rehab, where she rediscovered herself through the comprehensive rehabilitation programme.
Vidya emerged as a national and international para table tennis star, recently securing a silver medal in the mixed doubles Class 4 category at the International Table Tennis Federation Factor 40 Championship in Pattaya, Thailand. She won a bronze at the ITTF Para Championship in Riyadh (2023), and gold in women’s doubles at the UTT Para National Championship (2023-24).
“My goal is to represent India at the Olympics,” Vidya said. “And my journey is proof that with determination, you can achieve anything.”
Both athletes thanked the empowering environment of Chandigarh Spinal Rehab, which has been at the forefront of encouraging and training para-athletes. Founder and CEO Nicky P Kaur expressed her pride in their success, saying: “Anjali and Vidya have not only excelled in their sports but have also brought acclaim to our institute and country. Their journey proves that resilience can turn the darkest moments into the brightest triumphs.”
Also Read: Rural India wins big at the Paris Paralympics 2024
The lead image on top shows para table tennis player Vidya Kumari (left) who hails from Samastipur in Bihar, and Anjali Thakur, a quadriplegic boccia player from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. (Photos courtesy Chandigarh Spinal Rehab)
Kiranjit Kaur Jhunir is an independent journalist based in Punjab.
