Young Indian para-swimmer Palak Kohli says the disappointment of the Tokyo Games has increased her thirst for success and her only goal is to return with a gold medal at the Paralympic Games in Paris in two years.
The youngest Para badminton player to qualify for the Paralympic Games at 18, Kohli is currently competing in the Spanish Para badminton II international in Vitoria.
She had qualified in all three formats – singles, women’s doubles (Parul Parmar) and mixed doubles (Pramod Bhagat) at the Tokyo Games, but was unable to come back with a medal.
“Playing in Tokyo was a wonderful experience. There is no age requirement in para-badminton. So being the youngest to qualify for three events was a blessing because I got exposure to all three events,” said Kohli, whose left arm has been underdeveloped since birth. PTI.
“There was a lot of disappointment after losing mixed bronze in Tokyo after coming so close, but it also made me a lot hungrier and I live for that one goal, a goal for Paris. I don’t want to settle for anything less than gold. »
Kohli is currently focused on the Spanish Open, where she is seeded second in the SU 5 Group B women’s singles.
She and Bhagat top Group C in mixed doubles SL3-SU 5 with two wins. She also forms the first seed with Parmar in women’s doubles SL3-SU5 and won her first Group A match.
“This year, I am looking to play in various events. The Spanish Open is an important event where I want to do well,” said Kohli, who took advantage of the post-Olympic period to recover from bone marrow edema in his left tibia, a nagging injury that was first diagnosed in 2019.
“But the World Championships and the Asian Games are the main events I’m looking forward to this year. My long-term goals remain Paris 2024, the Olympic Games 2028 and 2032,” she said.
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