Para-badminton star overcomes childhood challenges to shine on the global stage
Jamshedpur: In the small town of Pupri in Sitamarhi, barely 30 kilometres from the Nepal border, a young boy spent most of his childhood chasing a simple dream — to play.
That boy was Umesh Vikram Kumar, who today stands among India’s leading para-badminton players. But long before international tournaments and world rankings, his journey began with something far more fundamental: the desire to be included on the playground.
At the age of two, Vikram was diagnosed with polio. Growing up, he loved sports more than anything else, yet the playground was not always a welcoming place.
“From a very young age, I loved sports. But because of my condition, I often experienced exclusion from team sports since I was not as fast as other children,” Vikram recalls.
“I used to feel every day that if I did not perform well today, I might not get another chance to play tomorrow.”
That quiet pressure became a powerful motivator.
Instead of stepping away from sports, Vikram pushed himself harder, practising more, working longer, and constantly trying to prove that he deserved a place on the field just like everyone else.
A Moment That Changed Everything
One incident from his school days remains etched in his memory.
When he was in Class 5, his school organised trials for the high jump event. Vikram surprised everyone by emerging as the best high jumper in the school, even outperforming many of his seniors.
Yet despite his performance, the sports department initially decided not to select him for the school team. For the young athlete, it was a deeply emotional moment.
“I cried that day,” he says. “It felt like I was being denied the opportunity because of how people saw me.”
But the experience also taught him an important lesson about standing up for himself. Gathering the courage to speak up, Vikram reported the issue to the school principal. The decision was eventually reconsidered and he was included in the team. The moment became a turning point.
It reinforced his belief that dedication and honesty towards one’s passion would eventually find recognition.
Finding Badminton
Years later, at the Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, an unexpected twist set him on the path that would define his future.
During the third semester of college, Vikram suffered an ankle injury while practising high jump. While recovering in 2011, he began visiting the badminton courts simply to stay active.
What started as a recreational activity slowly turned into a passion.
The courts, however, were always crowded with experienced players. For nearly a year, Vikram often waited hours just to get a chance to play a few games.
But persistence had already become part of his character.
Encouraged by supportive friends and professors, he continued practising, gradually learning the techniques and nuances of the sport.
The Larger Challenge for Para Athletes
Pursuing sports professionally brought a new set of challenges.
At the time, access to specialised training facilities for para-athletes in India was limited. Many sports academies did not yet have structured programmes for para-sports, making it difficult for athletes like Vikram to find the professional support needed to compete at higher levels.
Despite these hurdles, he continued pushing forward.
Today, Vikram has emerged as one of India’s prominent players on the international para-badminton circuit governed by the Badminton World Federation, even achieving the distinction of World No. 1 in both Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles in the SL3 classification during 2025.
Training at the Tata Steel High Performance Centre, he has continued refining his performance with scientific training, strength conditioning and professional coaching.
Inspiring the Next Generation
For Vikram, sport has always meant more than medals.
It is about showing that determination can open doors that once seemed closed.
Supported under the sports ecosystem of Tata Steel, which currently nurtures nearly 200 athletes across disciplines, he hopes his journey encourages more young people to pursue their dreams through sport.
“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear, and obstacles vanish.” Vikram says.
From a small village near the Nepal border to international badminton arenas, his story reflects the resilience of countless para-athletes — individuals who continue to redefine possibilities through courage, discipline and belief.
