Nand Kishore Sharma’s victory spread—from Telangana to India
In a world where even the slightest setback can appear impossible to overcome, there are some souls who rise—again and again—refusing to be defined by their situation. One such remarkable soul is Nand Kishore Sharma, a national para-athlete from Hyderabad, Telangana, whose life is a living example of resilience, grit and unbreakable willpower.
From losing his father at a young age and entering adulthood much too early—holding down several jobs just to keep his household afloat—Nand Kishore has known life at its toughest. But never did he let adversity dull his flame. His love of science, civic duty and physical fitness prompted him to wear multiple hats: a hospital professional, pandemic social worker, plasma donor and a regular warrior who runs marathons after working 14-hour shifts.
But fate had more trials in store. A tragic accident in May 2023 left him with a paralyzing spinal cord injury and a future, as far as medicine was concerned, that looked bleak. But Nand Kishore did what he always does—recoiled. With a broken back but an unbreakable spirit, he stood—first in a walker, then on his own two feet—and ultimately raced again. Not any race, but wheelchair racing, one of the most demanding and most prestigious sports in the Paralympic universe.
With only a month of self-practice on an old, rusty racing wheelchair borrowed from Chennai, he amazed the country by winning a 5th position for Telangana and qualifying for the Khelo India Para Games—a milestone most athletes take years to achieve.
Now, he dreams not only for himself but for the country. With absolute faith, Nand Kishore is determined to represent India at the 2028 Paralympics and return home with a medal in the wheelchair race. In an exclusive chat with The Pioneer’s Tejal Sinha, he takes us all through his childhood days, how the passing away of his father made the then li’l Nand Kishore work at a tender age, the nightmare of his life and more. Today, all he asks for now is support—just one racing wheelchair—to help him fly the Indian flag higher.
Early flashes of curiosity & energy
From childhood onwards, I’ve always been strongly fascinated by technology and science. I was an energetic and inquisitive kid. We’re three siblings and I’m the youngest of three brothers. I used to be called the one who was bright, could finish work easily, and was ever willing to involve myself in various new activities.
Father’s loss & legacy
I learned my passion and determination from my dad. But life became tough after I lost him when I was 11 years old. When the head and sole breadwinner of a family dies, nothing remains the same. Families break apart, and ours did too. We had two older brothers, but we could not manage to keep things intact. When I entered the 8th grade, I started taking up small jobs to sustain my family. My day would begin early—cleaning at a gold shop in the morning before school, going to school in the daytime, back to the shop in the evening, and tuition classes at night. Our rent for the house was ₹1200, and I was able to pay it from the income from this work, along with assisting my mother, who prepared food for others to earn.
Balancing Work, Education, Responsibility
None of our relatives came forward to help us when my father passed away. The initial days were very tough, but gradually we gained some stability. I continued working and pursuing my studies. During my Intermediate years, I had proper salaried jobs—working in a hospital during the day and giving tuitions in the evening. Along with handling responsibilities and studies, I slowly developed an interest in social service and voluntary work, which became a significant part of my life.
Bond Built Through Struggles
Subsequently, my older brother married and moved away from us. Indeed, both of my brothers were already staying away, and I kept living with my mother. Whether it was taking care of her, meeting household expenses, or taking care of my school charges, I did everything myself. These mutual struggles brought my mother and me very close, and an intense and unshakable bond formed between us.
Balancing Challenging Career with Passion to Serve
I had worked as the PA to a director in AIG Hospitals in Hyderabad. My working hours were hectic, beginning at 7 a.m. and extending till 8 or 9 p.m. in the night. Even with this challenging timetable, I was passionately interested in working
for NGOs and participating in volunteer activities. I was involved in relief efforts during the pandemic. Having experience in the hospital sector, I was able to get access to valuable resources—I coordinated hospital beds, oxygen cylinders, and other basic necessities for those who needed them. I coordinated with donors and facilitated plasma donations. I donated plasma three times myself and successfully encouraged approximately 150 people to do so as well.
Discovering Strength in Each Step
During all this, I fell in love with running and started joining marathons. Regardless of how late I came home—sometimes even as late as 10 p.m.—I ensured that I ran at least 10 kilometers before sleeping. Running became an unavoidable routine. Not only was it keeping me physically healthy but also acted as an effective channel to relieve stress. With so much workload on my shoulders, running kept me alert and energetic at the battlefronts.
Accident That Altered Everything
Everything was working out just fine when life took a drastic turn around 22 months ago. May 29, 2023. I had a terrible accident while going to work at about 6:30 in the morning. It was pouring rain, and the road had no divider. A moving auto-rickshaw ahead of me suddenly stopped, and I had to do the same. My bike went skidding and threw me to the other side of the road—directly into the way of an oncoming SUV. The car hit me at full speed and left the scene. I had previously worked with an illustrious spine surgeon Dr. Raghav Dutt, who has also been the President of the Orthopaedic Association of South Indian States (OASIS), which provided some insight into spinal injuries. Post the fall, I couldn’t feel my lower limbs and sensed immediately that my spine must be involved. In spite of the commotion, I remained aware and unruffled, directing passersby to assist me out of harm’s way and calling for an ambulance myself. It should be known that other people can remain safe if they also remain calm in these situations, as it saves lives. While I was being taken off the road, my legs were dangle and my torso was bent under the full force of the bike. After reaching the hospital, I was hurried for an MRI and scans. I was in the operating room within six hours. My elder brother was told by the doctors that the injury was bad—there was no certainty that I would walk again, or even sit.
Will to Rise Again
Even with this terrible news, I assured my doctor that I would walk into his office one day. That unshakeable belief in myself has gotten me through every difficult chapter of my life, and this was no different. For the following months, I was bedridden for good and completely reliant on others to do even the most minor tasks—using the bathroom, taking a sip of water, or even rolling over in bed. This was
particularly hard for someone like me, who had always been such an active person. Refusing to believe this was my destiny, I immersed myself in rigorous physiotherapy and exercise. My perseverance amazed even the physiotherapists, who would frequently cry upon witnessing my struggle. I screamed through the pain, but I never gave up. After five months of continuous effort, I stood up with the assistance of a walker. By the ninth month, I went back to work. Despite the many health complications I encountered—urinary infections, serious sputum infections, a 2.5 cm bladder stone that needed surgery, and bedsores that hurt—I overcame each difficulty only to become stronger. I knew I was not finished yet. I was only beginning.
Another Setback: My Mother’s Injury and Poor Health
Just as I had decided to go back to work, life presented me with another hurdle—my mother fell and injured her ankle. It was another agonizing phase in my life. I had to accompany her for physiotherapy sessions for almost a month and a half before returning to the hospital myself. Since I was now employed, my mother was forced to stay at home alone. I 
would move around in a wheelchair, which was incredibly dangerous since doctors had advised me against falling for at least two years. A bone in my spine had been crushed in the accident and substituted with a permanent rod, exactly in the L1 area. With time, my mother slipped into deep depression. Within just two months, she lost about 25 kilograms. Her appetite completely vanished, and she had to be admitted to the ICU. She even attempted suicide. Alongside psychiatric care, she required treatment for stomach complications, which became very expensive. Fortunately, through one of my friends, I was able to have her admitted in a hospital where a sympathetic doctor waived most of the fees, and I paid only for her medicines.
A Son’s Strength
She was hospitalized for approximately six months. Throughout this time, I kept working from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and then I would drive 60 kilometers to see her. Every day, I would wake up at 4:30 a.m. and take the same 60-kilometer trip back to work. It was just so painful—even for an able-bodied individual, covering 120 kilometers every day without knowing when or what they will eat is challenging. For me, to do this while being wheelchair-bound was not only tiring but also perilous. In spite of all this, my mother is well today. She has had two huge operations and weathered a period when doctors questioned whether she would recover. Her resilience provided me with even greater motivation to persevere, however difficult the path seemed.
Finding Strength to Rise Again
There’s always a limit to what one can bear, and when doctors told me that my mother’s second operation was successful, I collapsed. This was a turning point for me. I knew I had to do something for myself, something that would be a challenge even for the able-bodied. Wanting to do something extraordinary, I started searching and found the 
Paralympic Association of India. A nice woman from the association had been of great assistance, having an assessment done to determine the sport that would be compatible for my body. At this stage, I used to go to Necklace Road, a hotspot for running, every Sunday. I would see people run marathons and feel guilty because I could not run either. Being an erstwhile marathon runner, I yearned to run again.
How I became Telangana’s first wheelchair racer
One day, while browsing on the internet, I realized that I could take part in marathons using a wheelchair, and I started learning about wheelchair racing. After a month, I had learned all the facts and took a 7-year-old cycle from Chennai on rent, which was not in good condition. I got it repaired and then decided to leave my job in order to pursue sports full-time. Wheelchair racing, which is one of the most challenging and costliest events in the Paralympic arena, did not discourage me. I trained myself using YouTube tutorials and counseling with other racers. Just a month later, I 
represented Telangana and bagged the 5th position. My competitors had professionally designed wheelchairs that were very expensive, exceeding Rs 10 lakhs. My cycle was 12.5 kg, rusty, and was an old model that was 7 years old. I became the first Telangana person to have ever taken part in wheelchair racing, and it left many amazed. Subsequently, a few organizations invited me as chief guest, guest of honor, and brand ambassador.
Breaking Limits, beyond records
After my victory, India’s best wheelchair racer, Kiran Sriram Medkar, who is a gold medalist, contacted me and said he was willing to train me. She is a world champion wheelchair racer, and I began training under her. The Nationals were in February, and I had submitted my form and was selected for the Nationals within a month, a process that typically takes years. The officials initially doubted my equipment, but when I asked them to consider my application, they accepted it. This resulted in my being chosen for Khelo India Paralympics, a tournament only the best athletes can play, with standards on par with international games. I broke my own records within a span of one month of practice. I reduced my 800-meter time by 9 seconds and my 1500-meter time by 20 seconds, breaking my own limits. The experience was a testament to the determination and resilience I had gained throughout my life.
Pursuing My Paralympic Dream, an Indian representative
My intention is clear: to participate in the 2028 Paralympic Games, and I won’t rest until I reach there. Wheelchair racing is one of the most challenging and most sought-after sports globally, but it’s not as popular in India. It’s not only physically demanding but also costly. In this sport, the players compete from an inclined position, pushing the wheelchair ahead with their hands. The event is segregated into four categories: T51, T52, T53, and T54, which accommodate various disability levels in track events. Specialized equipment is needed to compete at the top level, and without it, it is hard to match the international level.
Call for Help
I am asking the public for one very important thing—a proper sports wheelchair. With the proper equipment, I’m sure that I can win a top position in the national championships within a year. At present, I’m racing with equipment way below the standard, but I know that my passion and drive are what differentiate me from other racers. In the coming nationals between December 2025 and March 2026, I am sure I will surpass my own records and return with a gold medal for Telangana. But for that, I need support. I’ve approached the government, but they informed me they have no funds for sportsmen like me. The bitter reality is that government assistance usually comes after a significant success. But I do not require more training or services—I need only an appropriate wheelchair to compete. My appeal is not just to the government but to the nation, NGOs and business groups. If they would help me with the basic facilities I require, it would make all the difference in terms of helping me live up to my potential and fulfill the timings that I am capable of.
Day-to-day struggle for excellence
In spite of the obstacles, I still train hard. Daily, I rise at 4 AM to go from Secunderabad to Gachibowli Stadium to attend my training sessions. This is a 60-kilometer round trip, which I undertake on my side-wheel scooter. At Gachibowli, the staff has been very supportive of my journey. I train twice daily, going out of my way to be better, despite doing so on inferior equipment. My savings from past work now pay for everything, and my coach freely gives me training without any cost. I also have the assistance of my doctors, who assist me with any medical needs.
Rapid Fire:
Your biggest source of energy: Be Motivated
Your driving force: Challenges of my life and inspiring many others like me
What describes you the best: My surgeon once complimented me saying ‘You’re unstoppable with your mind’ and I do believe that about myself
Your favourite cuisine: Daal Baati Churma
Biggest inspiration: Veer Savarkar and Subhash Chandra Bose
High phase in life: I’m going to participate in the 2028 paralympics representing India and become the first one in wheelchair racing. I’m surely going to achieve a medal for India.
Lowest phase of your life: When my mom was in the ICU and when my own brother’s couldn’t come to support me
