Who is Manasi Joshi? The athlete who won gold at BWF Para Badminton Championships

Manasi Joshi is an Indian Para-Badminton athlete who is currently World No. 2 among singles.

She was six when she started playing badminton. It was in 2011 when she met with a road accident and lost her left leg.

Later on, in September 2015, she won a Silver Medal in Mixed doubles at the Para-Badminton World Championship held in Stoke Mandeville, England.

Her Achievements: 

2015 Silver medal in mixed doubles Para-Badminton World Championships

2016 Bronze in Para-Badminton Asian Championships women's singles & women's doubles

2017 Bronze in women's singles Para-Badminton World Championships

2018 Bronze medal in women's singles at Thailand Para-Badminton International

2018 Bronze medal in women's singles in Asian Para Games 2018

2019 Gold medal in women's single in Para Olympics

Tournament update: Wonderful few days at the BWF Para-badminton World Championships. Stoked to have won the Gold with exactly #1YearToGo for #Tokyo2020 Paralympics.

Also, PV Sindhu, you are GOAT! Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/njB3XhNcVP

— Manasi Nayana Joshi (@joshimanasi11) August 25, 2019

On Tuesday, Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju handed cheques worth Rs 1.82 crore to the para-badminton winners.

The gold medal winners got Rs 20 lakh each while silver and bronze medallist took home Rs 14 lakh and Rs 8 lakh, respectively. Winners in doubles events were given Rs 15 lakh each for gold, Rs 10.5 lakh each for silver and Rs 6 lakh each for bronze.

"We want to ensure that all athletes are meted out the same facilities by the government. The para-badminton team has performed very well and brought glory to the country. They deserve to be rewarded for their hard work," Rijiju had said.

He even tweeted about their meet saying, "My happiness knows no bounds and it's beyond words as I felicitated our Para-Badminton player on winning 12 Medals at World Championship. A major decision is taken by the Sports Ministry today. We will award handsome cash money to the players at the time of arrival itself".

My happiness knows no bounds and it's beyond words as I felicitated our Para-Badminton player on winning 12 Medals at World Championship. A major decision is taken by Sports Ministry today. We will award handsome cash money to the players at the time of arrival itself. pic.twitter.com/P18LawSiRf

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 27, 2019

However, one of the athlete, Sukant Kadam - who finished with bronze at the championship - took to Twitter and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet the athletes. The request came after the PM had tweeted photos of himself with PV Sindhu - who had won gold. 

He wrote, "Honorable @narendramodi sir, We Para-Badminton Athletes also won 12 medals in Para-Badminton World Championship and we also want your blessings. Request you to allow us to meet as we missed a chance after Asian Games@PramodBhagat83 @joshimanasi11 @manojshuttler @GauravParaCoach".

Honorable @narendramodi sir,
We Para Badminton Athletes also won 12 medals in Para-Badminton World Championship and we also want your blessings.Request you to allow us to meet as we missed a chance aftr Asian Games@PramodBhagat83 @joshimanasi11 @manojshuttler @GauravParaCoach https://t.co/1zCqE91VAh

— Sukant Kadam (@sukant9993) August 27, 2019

Once the news of Joshi's victory came out, netizens weren't happy with biasness towards the differently-abled. While many praised the para-athletes, some urged others to celebrate Joshi's victory the way they did Sindhu's. 

And let’s not forget to acknowledge this GOLD too! #ManasiJoshi
Para Badminton World Champion  pic.twitter.com/y8QMUAKwX5

— taapsee pannu (@taapsee) August 27, 2019

In the high of PV Sindhu getting Gold in world championship, we forgot to wish #ManasiJoshi, who won Gold in World Para Badminton championship!
Here is it wishing her..: pic.twitter.com/wOW5zjy20c

— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) August 28, 2019

Manasi Joshi deserves the same respect and attention like PV Sindhu from the govt, stars and public. Salute to her. https://t.co/2VxyNgsbw8

— Varinder Bansal (@varinder_bansal) August 27, 2019

In the high of PV Sindhu getting Gold in world championship, we forgot to wish Manasi Joshi, who won Gold in World Para Badminton championship! pic.twitter.com/zGSxKWew56

— Anjali Dwivedi/Reva (@BeingReva) August 27, 2019

Manasi Joshi won gold in para badminton. She deserves the same appreciation as PV Sindhu got #respectpic.twitter.com/RxwanOWjue

— Prabhas (@Mirchi_Prabhas) August 27, 2019