Ludhiana's Aishwin wins gold at National Deaf Championship

Aishwin Kaur, an 18-year-old from Ludhiana, has made headlines by winning a gold medal at the National Deaf Senior, Junior, and Sub-Junior Sports Championship. She excelled in the singles category of table tennis, defeating Megha from West Bengal 4-2 in the final. The championship took place in Ahmedabad from March 20 to 24 and featured many top athletes. Aishwin’s achievements are remarkable, especially considering her challenges. Born with a hearing disability, she was diagnosed at age six with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), a serious genetic disorder. Doctors had limited hope for her future, but her father, Bikramjit Singh, describes her as a fighter. He emphasizes her determination, which has helped her defy the odds. In addition to her recent victory, Aishwin also had a successful run at the 10th Asia Pacific Deaf Games in Kuala Lumpur last December, earning a silver in the team event and a bronze in women’s doubles. Last year, at the Punjab State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament, she won a silver medal in the general category, showcasing her skills against top-ranked players. Despite difficulties in accessing quality training facilities, Aishwin trains for nearly eight hours a day at an academy in Gurugram. She stands out as the only deaf player among over 100 athletes at the academy, all of whom are without disabilities. Her father noted that Aishwin receives no special treatment, which only strengthens her resolve to excel in sports.