Alakshendra Singh, Pune
At the (International Federation for Sport Climbing) World Cup 2024, Manikandan Kumar has bagged yet another medal for the country. In the finals, he surpassed his adversaries Benjamin Wayworth of the United States and Xavier Rithner of Switzerland with a score of 44.
Manikandan Kumar has risen to the occasion multiple times when representing India on the global stage. Mani, who lost his right leg to polio, decided to become an adventure sports athlete. Despite the lack of a “para climbing” category in India, he began competing nearly immediately after taking up the sport in 2001. Though destiny took its sweet time, his talent was soon recognised by the climbing fraternity.
Manikandan was born into a poor family. His mother used to roll incense sticks to support the household and his father was a carpenter. His financial conditions were a big hurdle in the way of his goals, and he struggled to get funding for his first international competition. Things did work out though, as Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, General Thimmaiah National Adventure Academy, and various donations from friends and family made his participation possible.
Mani had the opportunity to compete for India in the 2012 World Rock Climbing Championships in France. After immense training, Kumar won the gold medal in the para category in France. He even took home the silver medal from the London Open and the Para Climbing Cup Series in 2013.
In a conversation with the MINT, Mani talked about his ambitions and his dream of representing his country at the highest level. Mandikaran was excited and confident after hearing the IFSC’s announcement that paraclimbing has been included in the 2028 paralympics in Los Angeles.
Kumar has won several bronze and silver medals since his first International Competition in 2012, making him the most successful Indian para climber ever. In 2023, he won a silver and a bronze in the World Cup events and then followed that performance with a bronze in the World Championships held at Bern.
The 2024 Para Climbing World Cup season comes to an end with the event in the “Nizza Del Trentino.” Beneath the limestone cliffs overlooking the well-known and historic climbing town, seventeen sport classes competed for glory. The final event of the 2024 IFSC Para Climbing World Cup season was held on the podiums in Arco, after competitions in Salt Lake City, USA, and Innsbruck, Austria.