In January 2024, Pruthvi Barve received the Fergusson Gaurav Award from the college’s alumni association, The Fergussonians. This achievement was unique because she was among the few students to receive the award while still studying.
Last month, the 19-year-old won a bronze medal in table tennis at the Khelo India Para Games 2025, held in Delhi. This accomplishment proved her remarkable willpower and tenacity beyond any doubt. Especially because neither of these achievements, along with many more, has come easily to the athlete.
Pruthvi was afflicted with right-sided hemiparesis when she was just one month old, a condition that results in weakness or partial paralysis on one side of the body. While the causes of right hemiparesis can vary from brain strokes to lack of oxygen during birth or even excess blood flow in the brain. In Pruthvi’s case, the exact reason remains unspecified. What is clear, however, is her journey of resilience that began early.
In 2019, she joined Sharada Sports Centre, training under coaches Dipti Chaphekar and Surendra Deshpande.(Express Photo)
By the time she was six months old, Pruthvi had already started physiotherapy, marking the beginning of a lifelong battle against physical limitations with determination and strength. In the fourth standard, she started playing table tennis, encouraged by her family who leaned heavily towards sports.
In the eighth standard, she moved from Satara to Pune and continued her education through homeschooling until the tenth standard. She later enrolled in Fergusson College, Pune, where she is pursuing a BA in Political Science.
In 2019, she joined Sharada Sports Centre, training under coaches Dipti Chaphekar and Surendra Deshpande. Here, she got the encouragement that mattered most when the coaches pitted her against regular opponents instead of those with a disability.
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“It changed her completely and gave her the confidence she needed – both as a person and a player,” said her brother Shantanu Barve, 24.
Pruthvi participated in her first Para Table Tennis National Championship in 2020 in Indore, winning a silver medal in the women’s class 9 category. Since then, she has competed in multiple national and international tournaments.
“Pruthvi’s dedication, focus, and strong willpower make her an inspiration. Hard work truly pays off,” said Dipti Chaphekar, her coach.
Pruthvi participated in her first Para Table Tennis National Championship in 2020 in Indore, winning a silver medal in the women’s class 9 category. (Express Photo)
She has secured multiple medals at national and international tournaments, including silver at the Para Table Tennis National Championships (2021, 2022, 2024-25) bronze in (2023-2024) and gold at the Al Watani Para Table Tennis Championship 2022. She has competed in The Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Para National Championships, Thailand Para Table Tennis Open, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Taiwan Para Open.
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In the BRICS Games 2023, she won a silver in team events and women’s doubles and bronze in mixed doubles, and ITTF events in Spain and Italy. She won gold in mixed doubles at the 1st and 2nd Para National Ranking Tournaments 2023 and 2024 and secured multiple medals at the Khelo India Para Games 2023 and 2025, maintaining the streak.
Pruthvi grew up in a household where sports were integral to life. “My parents were sports enthusiasts, and my brother was into sports from the very beginning,” she said.
This upbringing gave her a strong foundation, not just in athletics but also in a mindset that values dedication. “Pruthvi was brilliant in terms of academics,” said Shantanu.
She has secured multiple medals at national and international tournaments, including silver at the Para Table Tennis National Championships (2021, 2022, 2024-25) bronze in (2023-2024) and gold at the Al Watani Para Table Tennis Championship 2022. (Express Photo)
One of the most significant aspects of her journey was the unwavering support she received at home. “My parents never treated me differently, and even within my extended family, I was never treated differently because of my disabilities,” she said. This deep sense of acceptance from those closest to her played a crucial role in shaping her confidence.
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However, stepping beyond the comfort of home presented new challenges. “When I went out into the real world, I never felt different at first. But there were moments when people who lacked awareness about disabilities or the importance of inclusion unintentionally caused pain,” she said. Beyond their love for sports, Pruthvi’s parents have also been entrepreneurs for many years.
What is her message to the world at large? “See beyond your disability,” said the girl who practises what she preaches as she continues to represent her college and country in para table tennis, striving for new achievements in upcoming tournaments.
-Sakshi Prabhune is an intern with The Indian Express.
