DA Diary
Malathi Krishnamurthy Holla
Paralysis waist down
A raging fever when she was one year old paralyzed Malathi's entire body. Electric shock treatment for more than two years saw little Mala regaining strength in her upper body, but below the waist her body remained completely weak.
Notwithstanding the trials and turbulences that plagued her, Malathi decided to live life Queen Size, undaunted by the fury of fate. She chose sports as the best alternative medicine to forget her pain, and went on to become one of the most inspiring sports personalities of modern India.
With over 300 medals in her kitty, Malathi was conferred the prestigious Arjuna and Padma Shri Awards. She represented India in the Paralympics held in South Korea, Barcelona, Athens and Beijing; the Asian Games held in Beijing, Bangkok, South Korea and Kuala Lumpur; World Masters held in Denmark and Australia, Commonwealth Games in Australia and Open Championships in Belgium, Kuala Lumpur and England. Her specialties are 100 and 200 meters wheelchair races, shot put, discus and javelin.
Her never-say-die attitude has been an eye-opener to many contemporary sports stars, who often refer to her as the Champion of Champions.
She shelters children with various disabilities at Mathru Foundation — a charitable trust formed along with her friends, focusing mainly on polio victims from rural areas.
“I believe in reinventing myself and learning new things everyday. The only disability in someone can be an inferiority complex.” , says Malathi.
"A Different Spirit" is the title of the biography on Malathi, written by senior journalist, Anantha Krishnan M.
A raging fever when she was one year old paralyzed Malathi's entire body. Electric shock treatment for more than two years saw little Mala regaining strength in her upper body, but below the waist her body remained completely weak.
Notwithstanding the trials and turbulences that plagued her, Malathi decided to live life Queen Size, undaunted by the fury of fate. She chose sports as the best alternative medicine to forget her pain, and went on to become one of the most inspiring sports personalities of modern India.
With over 300 medals in her kitty, Malathi was conferred the prestigious Arjuna and Padma Shri Awards. She represented India in the Paralympics held in South Korea, Barcelona, Athens and Beijing; the Asian Games held in Beijing, Bangkok, South Korea and Kuala Lumpur; World Masters held in Denmark and Australia, Commonwealth Games in Australia and Open Championships in Belgium, Kuala Lumpur and England. Her specialties are 100 and 200 meters wheelchair races, shot put, discus and javelin.
Her never-say-die attitude has been an eye-opener to many contemporary sports stars, who often refer to her as the Champion of Champions.
She shelters children with various disabilities at Mathru Foundation — a charitable trust formed along with her friends, focusing mainly on polio victims from rural areas.
“I believe in reinventing myself and learning new things everyday. The only disability in someone can be an inferiority complex.” , says Malathi.
"A Different Spirit" is the title of the biography on Malathi, written by senior journalist, Anantha Krishnan M.