Para-badminton star Manasi Joshi is preparing for one of the busiest competitive cycles of her career, with her eyes firmly set on winning gold at the upcoming World Championships. Speaking at the Godrej Industries Assistive Tech Conference, she said reclaiming the title she won in 2019 remains her top priority as she heads into a demanding 2026 season.
Joshi, who has received her official selection letter, confirmed that she has qualified in singles, doubles and mixed doubles; a feat she described as a matter of pride. Her recent performances include medals from tournaments in Japan, Australia and Indonesia. She acknowledged that her world ranking had dipped after the Paralympics as she competed in fewer events, but said she has been pushing hard to regain her position.
For sports enthusiasts in Guwahati, where para-sports awareness and athlete development programmes have grown rapidly in recent years, Joshi’s return to form is being closely followed. Local coaches say her recovery journey including surgery for uterine fibroids highlights the resilience required at the highest level. Joshi said the focus now is on recovery, readiness and adapting quickly during back-to-back matches.