Mysuru: Losing a leg in a tragic accident at the age of four could have ended K.S. Shilpa’s dreams before they even began. Instead, the 37-year-old para athlete from Mysuru has transformed adversity into inspiration and is now set to represent India at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Shilpa, a native of Kanchugaranakoppal village in K.R. Nagar taluk, will compete in the Women’s F57 Shot Put event at the Games beginning on July 23. Her journey from a devastating childhood accident to the international sporting stage stands as a testament to resilience, determination and unwavering family support.
From classroom to athletics
Born into a farmer’s family, Shilpa completed her MA and B.Ed before moving to Mysuru in 2019 to work as a teacher at a private school. It was there that she discovered her passion for sports, initially taking up sitting volleyball.
She represented Karnataka at the national level before her volleyball coach, Raghavendra, encouraged her to switch to athletics. She soon began training in shot put and discus throw.
Seeking better facilities for para athletes, Shilpa resigned from her teaching job and shifted to Bengaluru, where she now trains at Sree Kanteerava Stadium under coach Eeshan.
Medal-winning journey
Shilpa’s rise has been marked by impressive performances at both national and international competitions. She won silver in shot put and bronze in javelin at an international meet in Thailand before claiming gold in shot put at the 2023 National Games in Goa.
She later secured silver at the 6th Open International Para Athletics Championship, bronze at the Fazza International World Para Athletics Championship in Dubai, and gold medals in both shot put and discus throw at the New Delhi championship. These achievements earned her direct qualification for the Commonwealth Games.
Expressing her excitement, Shilpa said representing India is a proud moment and that her greatest wish is to bring home a medal for the country.
Financial hurdles remain
Despite her success, Shilpa continues to face financial challenges. Living and training in Bengaluru costs her nearly ₹50,000 every month, while participating in an international competition requires around ₹3 lakh.
She said she has received little financial support from either the State Government or private sponsors, with her family bearing much of the burden.
Shilpa also hopes to acquire advanced sports prosthetics, which are significantly more expensive than the basic Jaipur prosthesis she currently uses. She believes specialised prosthetics would greatly improve her training and strengthen her dream of winning a medal at the Paralympic Games.