Join us on Mic & Magic with Manan as we sit down with Basavaraj Kundaragi—an international Indian Wheelchair Tennis player and a true symbol of resilience, determination, and the transformative power of sport.
Basavaraj M. Kundaragi is among India's rising wheelchair tennis talents. A dedicated righthanded player from Karnataka, he has achieved an ITF doubles ranking of No. 241 and a singles ranking of No. 358 (as of June 9, 2025). Domestically, he has showcased his consistent talent by reaching the National Semi-Finals in 2024 and emerging as the runner-up in both singles and doubles at the State Level Wheelchair Tennis Tournament in 2024. His potential was recognized when he was selected for the prestigious Samarth ParaSports Programme by Hyundai and the GoSports Foundation.
Basavaraj opens up about his journey, which began unexpectedly at a local tournament, leading him to compete at the professional international level.
In this deeply inspiring conversation, Basavaraj opens up about:
* His unconventional start in a state-level running tournament
* The challenge of transitioning from running to the precision of wheelchair tennis
* The crucial support from his family and the GoSports Foundation
* His experience at his first professional international tournament in Kazakhstan
* How he handles the frustration and mental game of losing a match
* His bold vision of winning a Paralympic medal for India
* His advice for young athletes with disabilities and how to support them
🎙️ Guest: Basavaraj Kundaragi — India International Wheelchair Tennis Player 🎙️ Host: Manan | Mic & Magic Podcast
🕒 Timestamps:
00:00 – Episode Start 00:46 – Guest Introduction: An overview of Basavaraj Kundaragi's journey
01:34 – Background: The unexpected start to his tennis career
02:51 – First Tournament: Winning Gold in State-Level Running
03:57 – The Switch: Transitioning to Wheelchair Tennis 06:17 – Major Highlight: Reaching the National Semi-Finals (2024)
07:18 – Family Support: The financial and emotional foundation
08:44 – Going Solo: Traveling and competing independently
09:47 – Game Favourites: Best part of the game (Backhand) and favourite players
11:51 – International Debut: The experience of playing in Kazakhstan
13:48 – The Mental Game: Handling losses and frustration
15:37 – Faith & Focus: The role of spirituality and prayer
16:47 – Free Time: What he does when he’s not training
17:41 – GoSports Foundation: How their support changed his life
18:48 – Future Goals: Becoming a Paralympic medalist
20:01 – Advice: Message for aspiring athletes with disabilities
21:28 – Support: How people can help Basavaraj and other athletes
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