Kasthuri Rajamani
Apart from Asian Para Games medal, Kasthuri has won medals at a World Cup in 2024 and double gold at IWAS (World Ability Games) in 2023. One such setback came in 2022, when her sponsor cut ties with her after she failed to perform at her first international competition. In the same year, I lost my grandmother to cancer.
I pushed myself not to give up and kept fighting,” Kasthuri, who has a personal best of 110kg, said. Rukhshona Uktamova (128kg) from Uzbekistan bagged the top spot, while South Korea’s Hyeonghui Kim (107kg) took home bronze. After securing her first state medal, Kasthuri knew that she could achieve more despite the struggles that would come along the way. “The sponsor had asked me to quit my job to focus on sport, but when they discontinued their support, things became very difficult.
Athletes go through ups and downs, and my coach and family helped me understand that and I moved on,” Paris Paralympian Kasthuri told TOI. “I might have started my career late, but I feel I started at the right time. After my Commonwealth Games performance (she could not record a lift), I was mentally disturbed.