it was the summer of 2006 when my maternal grandmother was to undergo a
maternal grandmother was to undergo a
maternal grandmother was to undergo a heart surgery to give her company my
heart surgery to give her company my
heart surgery to give her company my cousins and I moved in with her we spent
cousins and I moved in with her we spent
cousins and I moved in with her we spent many hot summer afternoons playing table
many hot summer afternoons playing table
many hot summer afternoons playing table tennis also known as ping pong in the
tennis also known as ping pong in the
tennis also known as ping pong in the recreational room of a building one day
recreational room of a building one day
recreational room of a building one day her friend came to visit her
her friend came to visit her
her friend came to visit her he saw us play and even told me I played
he saw us play and even told me I played
he saw us play and even told me I played quite well but I took this extremely
quite well but I took this extremely
quite well but I took this extremely lightly and just forgot about it
lightly and just forgot about it
lightly and just forgot about it later that night when I was speaking to
later that night when I was speaking to
later that night when I was speaking to my grandmom she told me he was none
my grandmom she told me he was none
my grandmom she told me he was none other than X National table tennis coach
other than X National table tennis coach
other than X National table tennis coach mr. ratty shattered my eyes lit up when
mr. ratty shattered my eyes lit up when
mr. ratty shattered my eyes lit up when she also told me that he had offered to
she also told me that he had offered to
she also told me that he had offered to train me
train me
train me the high-speed spins and different
the high-speed spins and different
the high-speed spins and different styles of the game fascinated me and I
styles of the game fascinated me and I
styles of the game fascinated me and I took up this offer at once cha-cha-cha
took up this offer at once cha-cha-cha
took up this offer at once cha-cha-cha as I fondly called him often wore his
as I fondly called him often wore his
as I fondly called him often wore his India team t-shirts when he came to
India team t-shirts when he came to
India team t-shirts when he came to train me he also told me many stories of
train me he also told me many stories of
train me he also told me many stories of his days representing India these
his days representing India these
his days representing India these stories would have inspired anyone but
stories would have inspired anyone but
stories would have inspired anyone but the most and biggest inspiration was
the most and biggest inspiration was
the most and biggest inspiration was when on my birthday he surprised me with
when on my birthday he surprised me with
when on my birthday he surprised me with the precious gift of the India Blazer he
the precious gift of the India Blazer he
the precious gift of the India Blazer he had worn to the World Championships I
had worn to the World Championships I
had worn to the World Championships I opened it in front of him and saw it
opened it in front of him and saw it
opened it in front of him and saw it incomplete all I realized it wasn’t my
incomplete all I realized it wasn’t my
incomplete all I realized it wasn’t my size and that’s when I had decided that
size and that’s when I had decided that
size and that’s when I had decided that I wouldn’t wear one until I had owned
I wouldn’t wear one until I had owned
I wouldn’t wear one until I had owned one of my own so I framed it I kept it
one of my own so I framed it I kept it
one of my own so I framed it I kept it on my bedroom wall
on my bedroom wall
on my bedroom wall I saw it each morning when I woke up
I saw it each morning when I woke up
I saw it each morning when I woke up every afternoon when I came back from
every afternoon when I came back from
every afternoon when I came back from school and it was also the last thing I
school and it was also the last thing I
school and it was also the last thing I saw before going to bed each night
saw before going to bed each night
saw before going to bed each night this blazer resonated with my dreams of
this blazer resonated with my dreams of
this blazer resonated with my dreams of representing India every time I saw it
representing India every time I saw it
representing India every time I saw it and realized I didn’t have one of my own
and realized I didn’t have one of my own
and realized I didn’t have one of my own it made me itch this is when my India
it made me itch this is when my India
it made me itch this is when my India dream was born and that was the first
dream was born and that was the first
dream was born and that was the first turning point in my life
turning point in my life
turning point in my life in 2012 I injured my shoulder blade
in 2012 I injured my shoulder blade
in 2012 I injured my shoulder blade despite extensive physiotherapy the pain
despite extensive physiotherapy the pain
despite extensive physiotherapy the pain wasn’t subsiding it had already been
wasn’t subsiding it had already been
wasn’t subsiding it had already been over a month since I had last held my
over a month since I had last held my
over a month since I had last held my racket I felt extremely restless as I
racket I felt extremely restless as I
racket I felt extremely restless as I wasn’t even able to do basic daily
wasn’t even able to do basic daily
wasn’t even able to do basic daily activities such as drink a glass of
activities such as drink a glass of
activities such as drink a glass of water or pick up my books what followed
water or pick up my books what followed
water or pick up my books what followed were more fruitless visits to various
were more fruitless visits to various
were more fruitless visits to various physiotherapists as an optimistic 13
physiotherapists as an optimistic 13
physiotherapists as an optimistic 13 year old I decided that I was going to
year old I decided that I was going to
year old I decided that I was going to fight this out there was only one option
fight this out there was only one option
fight this out there was only one option left
left
left I totally hated it but I decided that I
I totally hated it but I decided that I
I totally hated it but I decided that I would do yoga with the help of my
would do yoga with the help of my
would do yoga with the help of my paternal grandmother I got to visit Sri
paternal grandmother I got to visit Sri
paternal grandmother I got to visit Sri bks iyengar ji in his Yoga Center in
bks iyengar ji in his Yoga Center in
bks iyengar ji in his Yoga Center in Pune as I walked in the class I saw
Pune as I walked in the class I saw
Pune as I walked in the class I saw people of various ages contorted into
people of various ages contorted into
people of various ages contorted into seemingly impossible yoga asanas just
seemingly impossible yoga asanas just
seemingly impossible yoga asanas just like them
like them
like them he also made me hang upside down do back
he also made me hang upside down do back
he also made me hang upside down do back arches even though he knew how bad my
arches even though he knew how bad my
arches even though he knew how bad my shoulder was I just couldn’t hold it in
shoulder was I just couldn’t hold it in
shoulder was I just couldn’t hold it in anymore I cried in front of 200 people
anymore I cried in front of 200 people
anymore I cried in front of 200 people it wasn’t just the physical pain but
it wasn’t just the physical pain but
it wasn’t just the physical pain but also the mental agony of the thought
also the mental agony of the thought
also the mental agony of the thought what if I could never play table tennis
what if I could never play table tennis
what if I could never play table tennis again after a few more sessions my
again after a few more sessions my
again after a few more sessions my shoulder seemed to be getting better he
shoulder seemed to be getting better he
shoulder seemed to be getting better he told me to continue practicing with my
told me to continue practicing with my
told me to continue practicing with my grandmom at home after a few weeks of
grandmom at home after a few weeks of
grandmom at home after a few weeks of practicing at home and a lot more tears
practicing at home and a lot more tears
practicing at home and a lot more tears I was finally strong enough to get back
I was finally strong enough to get back
I was finally strong enough to get back onto the table I yet remember the first
onto the table I yet remember the first
onto the table I yet remember the first day when I started to play again hearing
day when I started to play again hearing
day when I started to play again hearing that ping pong sound of the ball was
that ping pong sound of the ball was
that ping pong sound of the ball was magical from twice a week to four times
magical from twice a week to four times
magical from twice a week to four times the six I stepped up my routine and
the six I stepped up my routine and
the six I stepped up my routine and within six months I was announced
within six months I was announced
within six months I was announced captain of the state junior team for the
captain of the state junior team for the
captain of the state junior team for the Nationals I led the team to a silver at
Nationals I led the team to a silver at
Nationals I led the team to a silver at the Nationals all this wouldn’t have
the Nationals all this wouldn’t have
the Nationals all this wouldn’t have been possible without the whole yoga
been possible without the whole yoga
been possible without the whole yoga experience and that was another turning
experience and that was another turning
experience and that was another turning point in my life I also knew that all
point in my life I also knew that all
point in my life I also knew that all this wasn’t possible without the help of
this wasn’t possible without the help of
this wasn’t possible without the help of my grandmom
my grandmom
my grandmom no wonder they say your grandparents are
no wonder they say your grandparents are
no wonder they say your grandparents are even more special than your own parents
even more special than your own parents
even more special than your own parents 2014 I was representing India at the
2014 I was representing India at the
2014 I was representing India at the world junior circuit open in El Salvador
world junior circuit open in El Salvador
world junior circuit open in El Salvador my 6 a.m. alarm rang and I was soon in
my 6 a.m. alarm rang and I was soon in
my 6 a.m. alarm rang and I was soon in the gym for my warm-up run and
the gym for my warm-up run and
the gym for my warm-up run and stretching routine post-breakfast
stretching routine post-breakfast
stretching routine post-breakfast I made my way to the stadium there
I made my way to the stadium there
I made my way to the stadium there seemed to be something special about
seemed to be something special about
seemed to be something special about that day as I walked into the changing
that day as I walked into the changing
that day as I walked into the changing room I opened my bag I chose the t-shirt
room I opened my bag I chose the t-shirt
room I opened my bag I chose the t-shirt at plain I held it in front of me mother
at plain I held it in front of me mother
at plain I held it in front of me mother Donny
Donny
Donny India I had never read these three words
India I had never read these three words
India I had never read these three words so slowly carefully or mindfully before
so slowly carefully or mindfully before
so slowly carefully or mindfully before that’s when I wore the t-shirt pride
that’s when I wore the t-shirt pride
that’s when I wore the t-shirt pride filled me in and I walked out of the
filled me in and I walked out of the
filled me in and I walked out of the changing room with my head held high
changing room with my head held high
changing room with my head held high just like the previous night the coach
just like the previous night the coach
just like the previous night the coach revised the game tactics with me
revised the game tactics with me
revised the game tactics with me there was just one hour to go for my
there was just one hour to go for my
there was just one hour to go for my first international singles final there
first international singles final there
first international singles final there was nothing more I wanted than to win a
was nothing more I wanted than to win a
was nothing more I wanted than to win a maid
maid
maid Gold for India as I shut my eyes for a
Gold for India as I shut my eyes for a
Gold for India as I shut my eyes for a split second and entered the arena
split second and entered the arena
split second and entered the arena I could hear a faint chant though India
I could hear a faint chant though India
I could hear a faint chant though India India India and that’s when I remembered
India India and that’s when I remembered
India India and that’s when I remembered the 2011 Cricket World Cup finals in
the 2011 Cricket World Cup finals in
the 2011 Cricket World Cup finals in Mumbai my finals started well and I won
Mumbai my finals started well and I won
Mumbai my finals started well and I won the first two games I was just one set
the first two games I was just one set
the first two games I was just one set away from winning my first international
away from winning my first international
away from winning my first international gold I even got the lead in the third
gold I even got the lead in the third
gold I even got the lead in the third game but I lost it and eventually even
game but I lost it and eventually even
game but I lost it and eventually even lost the game
lost the game
lost the game my coach sensed I was playing a little
my coach sensed I was playing a little
my coach sensed I was playing a little passively so from the other side of the
passively so from the other side of the
passively so from the other side of the stadium he signaled to me with his hand
stadium he signaled to me with his hand
stadium he signaled to me with his hand like a big TV that’s when I realized it
like a big TV that’s when I realized it
like a big TV that’s when I realized it was 4 a.m. in India but my friend’s
was 4 a.m. in India but my friend’s
was 4 a.m. in India but my friend’s family
family
family Federation officials and many more were
Federation officials and many more were
Federation officials and many more were watching the game on a live internet
watching the game on a live internet
watching the game on a live internet stream that’s when it dawned upon me
stream that’s when it dawned upon me
stream that’s when it dawned upon me that I was not only responsible for
that I was not only responsible for
that I was not only responsible for myself but for the entire nation I
myself but for the entire nation I
myself but for the entire nation I started the fourth game well and took
started the fourth game well and took
started the fourth game well and took the lead at once more my coach saw that
the lead at once more my coach saw that
the lead at once more my coach saw that excitement was written all over my face
excitement was written all over my face
excitement was written all over my face he kept telling me to keep calm
he kept telling me to keep calm
he kept telling me to keep calm I must confess it was incredibly
I must confess it was incredibly
I must confess it was incredibly difficult but it seems like I could hold
difficult but it seems like I could hold
difficult but it seems like I could hold my no as I went on to win the game 11
my no as I went on to win the game 11
my no as I went on to win the game 11 eight and fell to the floor in
eight and fell to the floor in
eight and fell to the floor in excitement there were screams and chants
excitement there were screams and chants
excitement there were screams and chants and the noise level hit the roof but the
and the noise level hit the roof but the
and the noise level hit the roof but the most heartening of all was seeing the
most heartening of all was seeing the
most heartening of all was seeing the coach running from across the hall with
coach running from across the hall with
coach running from across the hall with his arms wide open
his arms wide open
his arms wide open holding the Indian national flag I
holding the Indian national flag I
holding the Indian national flag I couldn’t resist
couldn’t resist
couldn’t resist but take the flag with me on to the
but take the flag with me on to the
but take the flag with me on to the podium Madani followed by India and soon
podium Madani followed by India and soon
podium Madani followed by India and soon my first international goal was around
my first international goal was around
my first international goal was around my neck but the best was yet to come
my neck but the best was yet to come
my neck but the best was yet to come about 50 meters across the hall
about 50 meters across the hall
about 50 meters across the hall the marching had stopped the band was
the marching had stopped the band was
the marching had stopped the band was silent the national anthem began to play
silent the national anthem began to play
silent the national anthem began to play as I sang each word of our national
as I sang each word of our national
as I sang each word of our national anthem I was closer to tearing up soon
anthem I was closer to tearing up soon
anthem I was closer to tearing up soon the flag was in clear sight that’s when
the flag was in clear sight that’s when
the flag was in clear sight that’s when I got a flashback of all my life’s
I got a flashback of all my life’s
I got a flashback of all my life’s turning points chartered saw handing me
turning points chartered saw handing me
turning points chartered saw handing me the India blazer during the Pune for
the India blazer during the Pune for
the India blazer during the Pune for yoga therapy representing India for the
yoga therapy representing India for the
yoga therapy representing India for the first time as I continued to sing the
first time as I continued to sing the
first time as I continued to sing the national anthem tears roll down my face
national anthem tears roll down my face
national anthem tears roll down my face everything seemed so worth it right then
everything seemed so worth it right then
everything seemed so worth it right then there was nothing more I wanted as the
there was nothing more I wanted as the
there was nothing more I wanted as the flag grows higher and higher nothing
flag grows higher and higher nothing
flag grows higher and higher nothing made me more proud than to see our flag
made me more proud than to see our flag
made me more proud than to see our flag to be the highest of all three what made
to be the highest of all three what made
to be the highest of all three what made this moment even more special was the
this moment even more special was the
this moment even more special was the timing 15 August 2014
timing 15 August 2014
timing 15 August 2014 winning India’s winning a gold for India
winning India’s winning a gold for India
winning India’s winning a gold for India on India 67th Independence Day as I
on India 67th Independence Day as I
on India 67th Independence Day as I heard the national anthem play on
heard the national anthem play on
heard the national anthem play on foreign soil as the entire crowd rose in
foreign soil as the entire crowd rose in
foreign soil as the entire crowd rose in attention and respect of our anthem and
attention and respect of our anthem and
attention and respect of our anthem and a flag there’s nothing more I could ever
a flag there’s nothing more I could ever
a flag there’s nothing more I could ever ask for
ask for
ask for the good performances continued as I
the good performances continued as I
the good performances continued as I went on to win 22 medals for India that
went on to win 22 medals for India that
went on to win 22 medals for India that led to an all-time high of number 10 on
led to an all-time high of number 10 on
led to an all-time high of number 10 on the global junior circuit standings each
the global junior circuit standings each
the global junior circuit standings each medal and tournament had a unique charm
medal and tournament had a unique charm
medal and tournament had a unique charm but my unique identity has been built by
but my unique identity has been built by
but my unique identity has been built by experiencing the various dawning points
experiencing the various dawning points
experiencing the various dawning points during this journey of table tennis what
during this journey of table tennis what
during this journey of table tennis what if I had not taken up charge sores awful
if I had not taken up charge sores awful
if I had not taken up charge sores awful what if I was never able to play table
what if I was never able to play table
what if I was never able to play table tennis after my injury I wouldn’t have
tennis after my injury I wouldn’t have
tennis after my injury I wouldn’t have won all the medals but more importantly
won all the medals but more importantly
won all the medals but more importantly I wouldn’t have been able to experience
I wouldn’t have been able to experience
I wouldn’t have been able to experience the life lessons that have shaped Who I
the life lessons that have shaped Who I
the life lessons that have shaped Who I am today I’m sure each and every one of
am today I’m sure each and every one of
am today I’m sure each and every one of you has experiences loved ones and small
you has experiences loved ones and small
you has experiences loved ones and small incidents that can change your life
incidents that can change your life
incidents that can change your life today I want all of you to please notice
today I want all of you to please notice
today I want all of you to please notice these small things around you I want you
these small things around you I want you
these small things around you I want you to be able to value the things that you
to be able to value the things that you
to be able to value the things that you may think are small but may become a
may think are small but may become a
may think are small but may become a turning point in your life there have
turning point in your life there have
turning point in your life there have been many turning points that all of you
been many turning points that all of you
been many turning points that all of you guys would have endured in your life and
guys would have endured in your life and
guys would have endured in your life and be ready to embrace the futures turning
be ready to embrace the futures turning
be ready to embrace the futures turning points as these are the only moments
points as these are the only moments
points as these are the only moments that will lead you to your one moment
that will lead you to your one moment
that will lead you to your one moment thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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