We should focus on how we can expand our horizons, educate ourselves, and have a growth mindset instead of feeling limited because of our disabilities, says Vikram Umesh Kumar, Manager – Helpdesk Services, Procurement, at Tata Steel, currently ranked 10th in the world in men’s singles and 9th in the men’s doubles SL3 (lower limb impairment) para badminton category.

In his 12-year career, the 32-year-old Mr Kumar has won 23 medals in international para badminton competitions, including a bronze in the men’s doubles at the Para Badminton World Championships in 2017 and 2019. For his accomplishments, he was recognised as a National Youth Icon in 2018 by the Indian Red Cross Society at Rashtrapati Bhavan. In 2023, he clinched a silver medal at the inaugural edition of the Khelo India Para Games, the first national multi-sport para athlete event.

Finding a purpose in sports

Born in Pupri, a small village 30km from the Nepal border in Bihar, Mr Kumar was diagnosed with polio when he was two, which affected his left leg. “I faced several challenges growing up,” he says. “But I always chose to overcome them and prove myself. Sports was one way of doing this as it always gave me positive energy.” His interest was sparked when he won his school’s high jump competition in the fifth grade. The defining moment came when he participated in a high jump competition at his engineering college, competing alongside athletes without disabilities and stood second. “I realised that I had the potential,” says Mr Kumar, who then took up para high jump professionally and went on to win a national gold medal in the 2010 National Paralympic Games.

“Tata Steel was the perfect place for this balance,” he says. “Here, I got help in every area from experts — be it sports, conditioning, physiotherapy, sports mind coaching, diet and nutrition.”

In 2011, Mr Kumar suffered an injury during practice. “While recovering, I switched to badminton just out of interest,” he says. Playing a new sport was extremely difficult for him. “Other players were fast and I didn’t even know the basics of the game.” Undeterred, he spent several hours observing and playing whenever he got an opportunity. A year later, he participated in his first national-level competition in para badminton, marking the beginning of his badminton journey. Mr Kumar started frequenting the international badminton circuit, with his first break being the 2013 Para Badminton World Championships held in Germany.

An enabling ecosystem

Another turning point came in 2017, when he was searching for an organisation that would support him on both the sports and work fronts. “Tata Steel was the perfect place for this balance,” he says. “Here, I got help in every area from experts — be it sports, conditioning, physiotherapy, sports mind coaching, diet and nutrition.” The support helped him improve his game and perform well in the para badminton circuit. “When I came to Tata Steel, my world ranking in men’s singles, and 34 in men’s doubles. In 2019, I was able to achieve my career-best ranking — world number 6 in men’s singles and 7 in men’s doubles.”

“The inclusive nature of the company makes it a great place to work,” he adds. Mr Kumar’s role involves both on- and off-field assignments as well as coordinating with a 30-member team. “Tata Steel did not just give me a desk job because of my disability; I felt very encouraged by this.”