Hiroaki Kajisa (left) of Japan and his guide Satoshi Toyoshima compete in the men’s 1500 m-T11 category at the test event in TokyoImage by Philip Fong / AFP
Palak Kohli, 19badmintonTraining location: Lucknow, Uttar PradeshHails from: Jalandhar, PunjabChallenges that she overcame“To reach where I am, the major challenge that I had to overcome was how people saw me—as a person with disability. There would always be some sort of sympathy from them and they would use terms like ‘bechari’ to address me. With my achievements in para badminton, people who saw me as ‘different’ are now extremely proud of me. I have become the youngest, the first and the only para badminton athlete to qualify for three categories at the Paralympics. My disability has become my ‘super ability’. It has given me a golden opportunity to represent my country at the prestigious event.”Image by Vikas Babu for Forbes India
Angel Archer, a Mexican paralympic discus throw athlete, practises in Naucalpan de Juarez, Mexico. He won a bronze medal during the 2019 Lima Parapan American GamesImage by Hector Vivas / Getty Images
Jose de Jesus Castillo, a paralympic powerlifting medallist, exercises at his residence in Guadalajara, Mexico. He has been training at home since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemicImage by Refugio / Getty Images
