My dream was just to have India written on my T-shirt, says Sukant

NEW DELHI: 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 adding, “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.