Parul Gupta, a Patiala-based girl was born with hearing impairment but she has managed to hear the beautiful melody of life through her passion — tennis.
The 19-year-old Parul did the nation proud by clinching two medals at the 2nd International Youth Tennis Tournament for deaf held in Hamburg, Germany recently.
Pursuing her favorite sports, Parul brought laurels to the country by winning a gold medal in the single category and silver medal in the doubles category at the same tournament held in Germany.
In an attempt to bring more awards for the nation, Parul is now all set to represent India in World Deaf Tennis Championship to be held in USA in the month of July.
“It is not just that tennis has become an important part of her life but her whole life revolves around sports,” explains Parul through her gestures with the help of her father Avinash Gupta, who has been her pillar of strength.
Her journey in the sports started at an age of 4 years and till now, she has participated in a number of tournaments representing India and winning prestigious events.
Parul’s other achievements include clinching a gold medal in lawn Tennis Women doubles category by representing Punjab in 18th National games of the Deaf held at Aurangabad (Maharashtra) in 2013, securing top position in women singles in the same tournament, securing first position in women doubles category by representing Punjab in a tournament held in Patiala in 2012.
At present, she is training at Tennis Excellence Academy, Mohali. Her father Avinash says that she is practicing hard for the upcoming tournament to be held in USA.
Avinash says, “Parul was just 6 months old when we came to know about her hearing impairment. It was a doctor at AIIMS, Delhi who had suggested us to encourage Parul to play to make her self dependent. At the age of 4, she started practicing at coaching center in Patiala and showed keen interest in sports.”
The lackadaisical approach of sports authorities towards deaf players also did not discourage Parul to continue her struggle to make her way to the top in the sports.
Avinash, who is an employee with Punjab State Power Corporation limited (PSPCl) says due to the apathy of sports bodies towards the deaf sportspersons and their reluctance to bear the expensive, we had to shell out at least Rs5-7 lakh to facilitate her participation in the international tournaments.”
“She gets upset with Government’s response but she doesn’t lose hope and performing best day by day. Her day starts at 5 am and she practices till 10 am and in evening also,” informs Avinash.
Parul studies in Class XII at Scholar Field Public school, Patiala. like other teenagers, she also likes to connect with people on social networking websites and dreams of making it big in the sports.