Disability is not the end of physical fitness and certainly not of passion. Despite prosthetic limitations, long runs, uneven terrains, lack of accessible infrastructure and financial barriers for adaptive fitness equipment, Goan para athletes adapt, train and come back stronger. In the lead-up to Goa’s well-known Rotary Rain Run, The Navhind Times speaks to two participating para athletes on their journey to redemption
Niklesh turns pain into power
His second innings is Goa’s first step into amputee football
When Niklesh Pednekar scored the opening goal for India in his debut amputee football match, just five minutes in, against a team of upper-limb amputees, besides celebrating, he laughed. Lying on the pitch, crutches scattered, joy unfiltered, he laughed.
“I was literally on the ground and laughing because I still got it,” he said. “I promised my friends and family that I would score, and I did. That was my happiest moment.”
At 35, the Vasco-based multi-sport athlete isliving his second innings.In 2015, a road accident almost took his life. It threatened to end his sporting dreams. Fifteen surgeries later, Niklesh had two options: accept limitations or define new ones.
Today, NikleshPednekar is returning to the two km category at the Rotary Rain Run.
“I haven’t changed my goals,” he says. “Before, I used to achieve them quickly. Now I achieve them slowly — but I’ll achieve them for sure.”
Once a goalkeeper for Goa Police, Niklesh is now Goa’s first and only player in the Indian Amputee Football Team, preparing for the Amputee Football World Cup Qualifier in Iran.
Despite being denied entry into a table tennis tournament post-accident due to the lack of a UDID card, he didn’t stop. He searched for communities that included para-athletes, eventually finding his way into Disability Alliance Inclusive Goa (DAIG) — the platform that reignited his journey.
“I was bored of living a normal life. After finding DAIG, my sporting journey started. And I’m happy now.”
Transitioning from a goalkeeper to a forward, and from two legs to one, (give or take a pair of crutches) wasn’t natural. Niklesh had never even used crutches post-amputation until he picked up the sport.
“It was very difficult… I had to control my run, walk, shots, passes and the crutches too. But I got tips from players who had 5–10 years of experience. That helped me adapt.”
And adapt he did.
His prosthetics aren’t built for running, often resulting in cramps, cuts, and wounds. Yet, he refuses to sit out.Whether scoring goals or absorbing blows, he plays through pain. Adapt, overcome.
“I’ve been through 15–16 surgeries. I’ve even assisted doctors during my own surgery at Bambolim. So, these cramps and cuts are nothing. If I wait for specialised prosthetics — which I can’t afford — I’ll miss my chance to perform. I’ll do wonders the day I get them, but until then, I’ll make do.”
One athlete, many sports
Football is only part of the story. Niklesh also competes and excels in wheelchair cricket, lawn tennis, badminton, swimming and table tennis. From Man of the Match performances in Warangal’s Inclusive Wheelchair T20 Series to a silver in the State Para Swimming Championship, and a Para Table Tennis gold in 2025, there’s no discipline that he will shy away from. “I get very little time to train. I practice early mornings before work. For cricket and football, I train at Chicalim Ground in Vasco. Badminton at Navelim.Swimming at SAG Campal only on weekends.”
Among all sports, it’s swimming that he says pushes him the most. “I’m scared of water, but one of my amputee friends taught me swimming in just six hours. Now I love to swim — until I feel I’m going to drown. That’s when it gets challenging.”
The mental game
What carries him through, Niklesh believes, is mindset. Looking at the man, it’s easy to believe it. The work ethic, endurance, drive. The unwillingness to bend, despite pain, adversity and anything else thrown his way, and most tellingly, the determination in his eyes are a window into that iron mindset.
“Every day is a challenge not just for disabled people but for everyone. But your mindset is what matters. I always try to stay positive. That keeps me going.”
It’s this mental strength that allows him to push through, even through the lack of support from the system. “There’s no real support or recognition for amputee football in Goa or in most states. Only Kerala promotes it seriously.”
But for Nikleshdonning India’s colours, all else has become secondary. “It’s the dream of every athlete,para or not to represent India. Getting praise from fellow Goans for being the first makes it even more special.”
And yet, his vision extends beyond personal achievement. He hopes to see a dedicated para-sporting complex in Goa a space where para-athletes can train with dignity and ambition. “It would attract more people with disabilities to take up sport seriously. We need proper facilities if we want para sport to grow in Goa.”
In the meantime, events like the Rotary Rain Run where he walks the 2 km category keep him motivated and included. “People come up to me and say, ‘You’re the real motivation.’ That matters. That keeps me going.”
For young athletes with disabilities,Niklesh’s advice is simple. “I lost my leg at 25. It was tough to adapt. But for those born with disabilities — you already have what it takes. Don’t give up. Try and try until you succeed.”
