Jehan Dorab Madan: Inspiring Journey from Paralysis to Table Tennis Champion
M Sudharshan | TNN
Until 2007, Jehan Dorab Madan led an active life as a professional racing driver, while tennis, windsurfing and swimming in the ocean were among his hobbies. However, his life took a dramatic turn after an accident left him paralysed.
But Madan from
Tamil Nadu
, a passionate sportsperson, refused to give up. Fourteen years after the accident, in 2021, he discovered a love for table tennis and has been making steady progress ever since. What has helped him excel in the sport, winning medals at international and national levels, is the disciplined approach he has maintained towards his recovery.
You Can Also Check:
Chennai AQI
|
Weather in Chennai
|
Bank Holidays in Chennai
|
Public Holidays in Chennai
'When you are paralysed, the most important thing is to stay active so your body can function,' says the 48-year-old.
'At one point, I could not even lift a spoon, but I kept trying so my body would start to adapt. Now, everything seems easy.'
Madan, a class 1 (wheelchair) athlete, won multiple medals at the recent ITTF events in Taipei (Future) and Kaohsiung (Challenger). In Kaohsiung, he clinched silver in the men's singles, losing to multiple Olympic medallist Joo Young Dae of South Korea.
'The Kaohsiung competition was a game-changing event for me.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years
IC Markets
Learn More
Undo
I never used to win from losing positions, but this time, I managed to do that on multiple occasions. I identified my opponent's weaknesses even when he was leading, took some risks which I had not done before, and it paid off,' says Madan, who won gold in the Khelo India Para Games earlier this year.
Madan has also started to gain confidence in himself as he travels frequently and manages things on his own, something that was not possible between 2007 and 2021.
'I thought my world was confined to my home. But travelling around the world opened my mind and gave me confidence. Simple things like going to the supermarket or taking a bus are possible abroad, which is not the case in India due to accessibility issues.'
Madan had a tough season last year and failed to qualify for the Paris Paralympics; however, the lessons learned from competing against top-ranked players have shaped him into a better athlete. While Madan predominantly competes in the Future and Challenger categories, he is slowly pushing the bar and gaining valuable points to enter elite-level tournaments. 'Next year will give me a better idea of where I stand in terms of qualifying for the Los Angeles Paralympics.
The ranking system has changed, and top-ranked players will need to participate in competitions to earn points,' says Madan, who is ranked 22nd in the world.
Robot rally
Madan mostly trains with a robot at home, which he says is helpful as it allows him to focus on specific drills. 'Players in my category often try to prevent their opponent from reaching the ball by playing close to the net. So, I spend half of my session practising those shots, and then I play with my able-bodied friends who compete at club level.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
IND vs ENG 4th Test: 'India won, then lost' - Suresh Raina makes huge series prediction
India captain Shubman Gill at Lord's Cricket Ground (Photo by) Despite India trailing 1-2 in the ongoing Test series against England, former cricketer Suresh Raina has backed the team to pull off a sensational comeback. The veteran believes that the Shubman Gill-led side has shown enough grit and character to turn things around in the final two Tests. India lost the third Test at Lord's by just 22 runs, falling short while chasing 193 despite a fight from the lower order. Despite momentum being on the hosts' side, Raina remains optimistic. 'They will do it. They have that sense of desire, perseverance and determination,' Raina told ANI. 'Gill will make his mark, as a batter and as a captain. I think he has done really well.' Gill has led by example so far, scoring 607 runs in six innings at a staggering average of 101.16. The 25-year-old has already hit three centuries, with a top score of 269. He's found strong support from Rishabh Pant (425 runs), KL Rahul (375 runs), Ravindra Jadeja (327 runs), and Yashasvi Jaiswal (233 runs). India camp hit by more injuries, Playing XI TENSION before Manchester Test vs England 'India won, then India lost, then won, then lost (talking about sessions during the Test series). But Shubman Gill as a player, has done well. He has scored runs. Washington Sundar has done well,' Raina added. 'Then we saw how KL Rahul batted, offered some solidity as an opener and got good support from Yashasvi Jaiswal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These things are considered normal in Iceland - View listing Novelodge Undo Then Rishabh Pant, he has batted so differently and his wicketkeeping has been great.' Poll Do you believe India can make a comeback in the Test series against England? Yes, they will win the next two Tests No, it's unlikely The crucial 4th Test begins on July 23 at Old Trafford in Manchester. Raina is currently part of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) season two. The India vs Pakistan fixture in the tournament was recently called off by organisers, who issued an apology citing discomfort caused to Indian legends and fans. Shikhar Dhawan had earlier made it clear he would not play Pakistan, citing geopolitical reasons. Raina too, sided with the decision to not play against Pakistan, retweeting a post by WCL sponsors reiterating why they will not be associated with or participate in any WCL match involving Pakistan. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Shaquille O'Neal predicts how long new couple Klay Thompson and Megan Thee Stallion will last
Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson (Image credit: Getty Images) Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Klay Thompson and rapper Megan Thee Stallion are yet to complete even a month of their relationship, but the couple is already painting the town red with love. On one hand, they've taken things to the next level by merging their workout routines. On the other, NBA veteran Shaquille O'Neal has made a rather disappointing prediction about their relationship timeline. Shaquille O'Neal gives a timeline for Klay Thompson and Megan Thee Stallion's relationship During his The Big Podcast with Shaq, Shaquille O'Neal gave an expiry date to Klay Thompson and Megan Thee Stallion's relationship. When asked how long he thinks the couple will last, Shaq replied, 'Six weeks, the line is six weeks.' Boxing legend Mike Tyson, who was also a guest on the podcast, seemed to disagree. 'That might last a long time. You know, six weeks ain't nothing. She got that shot. So you've got to give her some credit. You got to give a little credit that he might got some staying power,' Tyson said. Klay Thompson and Megan Thee Stallion paint the town red Megan Thee Stallion let the cat out of the bag when she included Klay Thompson in one of her Instagram pictures. Just days later, the couple appeared together on the red carpet at the Pete and Thomas Foundation Gala in New York. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Inside glimpses from the event showed Thompson and Stallion seated side by side at a round table. While Stallion was fully engaged and made her presence felt at the event, Thompson kept a lower profile and has yet to speak publicly about the relationship. He did, however, show off an expensive watch reportedly gifted by his new girlfriend. Meanwhile, Megan Thee Stallion was full of love and praise for Thompson while speaking on the red carpet. She told PageSix, 'This is my first relationship where I've ever been with somebody who's genuinely a nice person, and he makes me genuinely happy. I just never dated somebody like him before, and I'm just grateful that he's here by my side and he feels the same way about me.' Also Read: Klay Thompson and fiancee Megan Thee Stallion take couple goals to the gym, end session with a kiss Klay Thompson and Megan Thee Stallion's previous relationships Klay Thompson, 35, previously dated American actor and model Laura Harrier before they parted ways in 2020. Megan Thee Stallion, 30, is a Grammy Award-winning rapper. She dated rapper Pardison Fontaine until their breakup in 2023, and was later briefly linked to NBA player Torrey Craig. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Feel completely out of place when I see myself alongside Tendulkar with the trophy: James Anderson
England pace legend James Anderson confessed that seeing his name alongside the iconic Sachin Tendulkar on a trophy feels "completely out of place," calling it an incredible honour to be associated with "one of the greatest cricketers to have ever lived". The England and Wales Cricket Board ( ECB ) has rechristened the Test series between India and England as the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy , paying tribute to the two titans of the sport. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Finance Degree Project Management MBA Technology Management CXO Public Policy Operations Management MCA PGDM Data Science Design Thinking Artificial Intelligence Others Data Analytics Data Science healthcare Product Management Leadership others Healthcare Digital Marketing Cybersecurity Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 Months IIM Calcutta SEPO - IIMC CFO India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Fintech & Blockchain India Starts on undefined Get Details Previously, the contests on English soil were played for the Pataudi Trophy , named after former Indian captains Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi and his son Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Manggarai Selatan: Beautiful New Senior Apartments with Two Bedrooms Senior Living | Search Ads Search Now Undo "It's not necessarily just how huge it is to have a trophy named after you, but alongside Sachin Tendulkar, who for me is one of the greatest ever cricketers to have lived. "I feel completely out of place when I see myself alongside him with the trophy. I hold him in such high regard." Anderson told 'Sky Sports'. Live Events "I watched him as a kid, played against him. He's just such an iconic cricketer who's carried the weight of a nation on his shoulders throughout his career and past it as well. So, to share something like this with him is an incredible honour." Both Anderson and Tendulkar are widely regarded as all-time greats. They are the most-capped players in the history of Test cricket. Tendulkar played 200 matches, and Anderson appeared in 188 Tests. Anderson, who claimed 704 wickets in 188 Tests, faced Tendulkar on several occasions during the late 2000s. The 42-year-old also reflected on how detached he sometimes feels from the legacy he's created. "It is strange that when people talk about what I have achieved in cricket, like when I hear about it as if someone's talking about someone else if that makes sense like I don't feel it is me who has achieved all this," he said. Anderson brought the curtain down on his illustrious career last year, stepping aside to make way for England's next generation of fast bowlers. England currently lead the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-1 with the fourth Test slated to begin on Wednesday at Manchester.
