Exclusive! 'India Evolving, But Progress on Disability Support Still Has A Long Way to Go,' says Asia's Fastest Woman on Blades Shalini Saraswathi

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Shalini Saraswathi, India's first female blade runner, represented the country at the Asian Para Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China. She holds the Asian record for the fastest woman on blades in the T62 category.

Beyond her achievements as a blade runner, Shalini is an adventure enthusiast, national-level athlete, marathoner, public speaker, motivator, blogger, and Director at Firstsource Solutions.

In 2012, Shalini's life took a dramatic turn. After returning from a vacation in Cambodia, where she had celebrated her fourth wedding anniversary with her husband, she contracted rickettsia with morts, a rare bacterial disease.

At the time, Shalini was also pregnant. She fell suddenly ill, developed a high fever, and her condition rapidly worsened. Despite being in the ICU for several months, she tragically lost her baby and both her arms and legs to the infection.

Undeterred by these challenges, Shalini exhibited remarkable willpower and resilience. Determined to maintain her fitness and overall health, she began training with the support of her coach, BP Aiyyappa and started participating in marathons.

In 2017, she completed the TCS 10K marathon in 1 hour and 35 minutes. Today, she is a National Silver medalist (2022) and National Gold medalist (2021) in the 100-meter sprint category at the National Para Games. She also competed in the Asian Para Games 2023.

In an exclusive interview with MyKhel, Shalini candidly shared her experience at the Asian Games, and her journey into running on blades, and discussed topics such as inclusiveness for disabled people in India, the types of prosthetics available, and more. Here are the excerpts from the interview:

Asian Para Games 2023 experience

Speaking about her experience at the Asian Games, Shalini noted that it was incredible to engage in discussions with athletes from various countries.

"It was truly the cherry on top. I loved the experience, especially as someone who comes from a non-sporting background. I got into sports after my disability. When I was able-bodied, I never imagined participating in any athletic event. The transition from that point to representing my country and meeting so many athletes from different countries was absolutely amazing. We ended up having many enriching conversations with people from all over."

Her running journey with blades

Additionally, Shalini highlighted her journey into running following the loss of both her arms and legs. She shared how her coach supported her throughout this process, despite having no prior experience training an athlete with a disability.

"The first time I went to Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore was in 2014, and I had prosthetic legs. When I met my coach BP Aiyyappa, we never initially thought about running; the focus was simply on making sure I could walk again. Later, we figured out running and participated in the TCS run for two consecutive years, in 2016 and 2017. That's when my coach suggested we try competing professionally."

"My coach had never trained a person with a disability before. We did a lot of research on running with blades. We had to understand what other people were doing. We went to various stages of understanding how we could even start running because the start is very important for a runner. We really struggled as I needed something to rest my hands before I started my race. We made something where I could rest my hands. From there we transitioned to various techniques."

"And it has been a process of trial and error. We've learned and unlearned many things along the way. The journey has been intense, involving a lot of training. It took me nine years of dedicated practice to reach the Asian Games, with daily training sessions. Our preparation involved deeply understanding what we could and couldn't do."

India at the Paris Paralympics

Moreover, Shalini discussed the ongoing evolution of para-sports, highlighting how they are advancing daily. She emphasised that para-athletes are increasingly winning more medals in global competitions, reflecting the growth of the field and the increasing number of participants.

"The fact that para-athletes are winning more medals than able-bodied athletes, whether in Paris or the Asian Games, has brought para-sports to the forefront. A lot more people with disabilities are now eager to give it a try. Para-athletics has evolved significantly over the years. The progress is remarkable compared to my first official race in 2017, which is where we are in 2022. We're heading in the right direction."

Inclusiveness for disabled people

She also shared her views on inclusiveness for disabled individuals in India, noting that while progress has been made, the nation still has a long way to go in effectively implementing policies designed to support people with disabilities.

"Infrastructure-wise, we're still far from where we need to be. When it comes to public transport, I don't think anyone with a disability can easily get on a bus or car and travel. There's still a long way to go in that area. For those from affluent families, it might be easier to navigate life with a disability.

However, the majority of people with disabilities in India come from rural areas, where they lack access to proper infrastructure, prosthetics, assistive devices, schools, and healthcare systems. There's also a social stigma that persists. While there are policies in place, such as those encouraging employment for disabled individuals, the implementation of these policies still has a long way to go."

On Prosthetics:

She also discussed the types of prosthetics used in para-athletics and highlighted the high cost of these devices for athletes in India. "There are different kinds of prosthetics, depending on their intended use. They vary by function, such as for walking, everyday essentials, running, or heavy usage in sports.

"Each version differs in design and cost. For example, the prosthetics used for running are different from those used for javelin or discus throw. While they come in varied types and forms, they are extremely expensive, making them unaffordable for many people in India."

On her training:

She also outlined her training schedule and emphasized the importance of strength and functional training in her regimen. "I train for peak performance with Dipali Pandey, the better half of Yash Pandey. My trainers, Pawan and Harish, also play a crucial role. It's like a team of three, each taking turns to make my life miserable!

"I do strength and conditioning (S&C) three times a week, and on the other three days, I focus on running at Kanteerava Stadium. We incorporate a lot of functional training to build core strength and stability, which is essential for controlling the blades."

Favourite restaurants in Bangalore:

"I really enjoy dining at Paradise, China Pearl in Koramangala, Rice Bowl on Lavelle Road, Koshy's, and 13th Floor."

The craziest thing she's done with friends:

"We used to go on late-night car drives along Outer Ring Road and stop for tea at small thelas."