City para-badminton star injured in Asian championship final

City-based para-badminton player Palak Kohli (22) suffered a serious injury during the finals of the women’s singles at the Asian Para-Badminton Championship in Thailand last week. Kohli lost her balance and twisted her knee during the third set of the match, following which she was flown back to Lucknow for treatment.

She underwent surgery at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences on Wednesday and is now said to be recovering. News of her injury and surgery came to light after she posted an update about her condition on Instagram on Saturday.

Palak has represented India twice in the Paralympics, finishing fourth at the Tokyo Games and fifth in the recent Paris Paralympics. Her performances had earned praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In her Instagram post, she wrote, “A recent update in my life: Last week, during the finals of Women’s Singles at the Asian Para Badminton Championship 2025, in the heat of the third set, I lost my balance and twisted my knee. Unfortunately, it led to an injury that required surgery. It’s been tough to process — being so close to the title and then having to walk away due to something beyond my control. As a result, I’ve also had to withdraw from my upcoming tournaments, which is heart-breaking.”

In an emotional note, she added, “But that’s sport, and that’s life. I’ve undergone surgery and started my road to recovery. I promise to give my everything to come back stronger, hungrier, and better than ever. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to all my supporters, fans, and well-wishers who have stood by me in this difficult time. Your love and messages mean the world. The journey doesn’t stop here — it’s just a new chapter. See you all soon on the court.”

Jalandhar