“Para-Badminton Star Manasi Joshi Criticizes Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina for ‘Mocking Disabilities'”
Para-Badminton Star Manasi Joshi Criticizes Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina for Mocking Disabilities
In the exciting finale of the inaugural World Championship of Legends, the India Champions triumphed over their arch-rivals, the Pakistan Champions, by five wickets at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Pakistan Champions, led by Younis Khan, set a challenging total of 156 for 6 in their 20 overs. However, Ambati Rayudu’s blistering 50 off 30 balls helped India chase down the target with five wickets and five balls to spare.
Post-match celebrations saw captain Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, and Harbhajan Singh engaging in a light-hearted moment, dancing to the song “Tauba Tauba” while humorously mimicking a limp. The video of their antics quickly went viral on social media, sparking controversy.
Para-badminton star Manasi Joshi, a former world No. 1 in her SL3 category, expressed her displeasure over the video, criticizing the cricketers for mocking disabilities. Joshi made her stance clear in the comments section of the viral Instagram video.
“Expected more responsibility from the stars that you all are,” Joshi commented. “Please do not mock the gait patterns of people with disabilities. This isn’t funny.”
Joshi emphasized the potential harm such behavior could cause, highlighting the negative impact on individuals with disabilities. “You don’t know how much harm your behavior can do. The appreciation you’re getting from people around is appalling to see. This reel of yours is going to encourage that it is okay to make fun of the walking patterns of people with disabilities for a few laughs. More young children with disabilities will be bullied by using this reel,” she continued.
In her strong critique, Joshi called out the cricketers for their lack of sensitivity and urged them to engage in responsible community service to understand the gravity of their actions. “If any of you athletes had done responsible community service in the disability space area, you all would not have come up with this reel. I’m scared how the PR agencies of these athletes approved this reel for a public platform,” she added.
Joshi did not hold back in expressing her disappointment. “I’m really disappointed in you @harbhajan3 @sureshraina3 and all the people in the comments section who are appropriating this reel,” she wrote. “This isn’t legendary if you’re mocking gait patterns of people with polio. This will enable bullying of young children with disabilities in India.”
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the responsibility of public figures to set a positive example and the need for greater awareness and sensitivity towards disabilities. As the video continues to circulate, the reactions highlight the ongoing struggle for respect and understanding faced by individuals with disabilities.
