Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Sep 22: Two women from Karnataka are proving that strength does not always come from standing tall—it also comes from sitting strong. Wheelchair tennis players Pratima Rao and Shilpa Puttaraju, who have overcome both physical challenges and social prejudice, are now set to represent India in three major international tennis tournaments, following years of quiet determination and grit.

The duo will participate in the upcoming International Tennis Federation (ITF) wheelchair tennis events in Taipei (October 17–27), Brazil (October 18–26), and Sri Lanka (November 18–December 1). Both will compete individually in the singles category and then pair up as a team for the doubles matches.

Pratima Rao (left) and Shilpa Puttaraju

Though once competitors on the court, Pratima and Shilpa now join forces, combining their strengths and shared drive to prove what is possible with discipline and belief.

Asked why she chose a sport as demanding as tennis, Bengaluru-based Pratima Rao said the decision came from a deep personal motivation. “People always told me I could not do anything because of my disability. But I have always had this fire to prove them wrong. I needed to show them—and myself—that I am more than what they see,” she said.

For Shilpa Puttaraju, from Mandya, tennis came into her life by accident. “There was not a specific reason I chose tennis. I did not even know much about it when I started. But as I began playing, I fell in love with it—and now I cannot imagine life without it,” she said.

Tennis, a sport that demands stamina, strategy and physical strength, requires consistent and intense training. Pratima, who began by training at home, now includes regular gym workouts in her routine. Shilpa also trains daily, committing at least an hour each day to fitness and conditioning.

The path to this point has not been easy. Their journey has been marked by both sweet victories and difficult setbacks. Pratima recalls her win at the 2017 Tabea Open as a defining moment in her career. “That victory meant a lot. It told me I belonged on this path,” she said.

Shilpa, despite her steady progress, feels her talent is still under-recognised. “As far as I know, my abilities have not been widely acknowledged. But I continue because I know what I bring to the game,” she said.

India’s presence in para-sports has grown significantly in recent years. At the 2024 Summer Paralympics, the country bagged an impressive 29 medals, including seven gold, underscoring the growing strength of its para-athlete contingent.

Now, with global tournaments on the horizon, Pratima and Shilpa are ready to step onto the international stage—not only to compete but to inspire. For both, the sport represents more than victory; it is about visibility, self-respect, and challenging outdated perceptions of disability.

As they prepare to carry India’s hopes onto foreign courts, they also carry a powerful message: that resilience, talent and purpose know no physical bounds.