OUT-KICKING BIASES

Para athlete Aruna Singh Tanwar shares how taekwondo changed her perception about her body and why she believes she is the best.

- MALIKA HALDER

She is intense, high on energy, and game for every pose, said my colleague who was at this cover shoot when I asked them about Aruna Singh Tanwar. Days later when I was about to get on a call with the 24-year-old taekwondo player and India’s medal hope in the upcoming Paralympics in Paris, the millennial in me was mentally preparing (and secretly hoping that the caffeine in my system would give me the right kick) herself for a sprightly conversation with a Gen Z. But little did I know that the person I would speak with would pleasantly surprise me with her calmness and clarity—both in her thoughts and words.

Tanwar’s maturity is almost precocious, one can say. “Life has taught me so much— the experiences, the taunts, and the unkind statements people used to make about me. All of this has made me overtly mature for my age,” agrees Tanwar.

Eldest of three siblings, Tanwar has been a bundle of energy, always on the move, and constantly seeking out new adventures from an early age. However, growing up with a disability, particularly in rural India, has its own set of challenges. Societal attitudes were often less than supportive, recalls Tanwar who hails from Haryana’s Bhiwani district. But her family was her rock. Her parents and siblings have always encouraged her to pursue her dreams, no matter how unattainable they might have seemed. “They [younger brothers] always treated me like a brother. My parents always encouraged me to be independent. They never allowed me to feel lesser in any sense.”

Tanwar was born with deformities in both her hands. For many, this would have been a devastating blow, but for Tanwar, it was the beginning of a journey that would define her life. This year’s Paralympics will be her second consecutive outing. In 2021, she became the first-ever Indian taekwondo athlete to qualify for the Paralympics. Last year, she became the first Indian taekwondo athlete to win a medal at the Asian Para Games.