Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveZain Samdani: The innovator’s robotic glove is helping patients with paralysed hands

Zain Samdani: The innovator’s robotic glove is helping patients with paralysed hands

Written by: Charu Thakur

(June 10, 2022) As a 15-year-old visiting India from Saudi Arabia, Zain Samdani had no idea that this family vacation was set to change the course of his life. A meeting with his partially paralysed distant maternal uncle left him “shocked.” In the era of technology, seeing his uncle dependent on others for every small thing was nothing short of a horror. That encounter nudged this robotics enthusiast and innovator to develop Neuro-ExoHeal, an exoskeletal hand rehabilitation device that utilises neuroplasticity and Azure technology to help patients with neurological damage recover faster at an affordable price. The innovation not only left Google CEO Sundar Pichai impressed but also made the 21-year-old win Microsoft 2022 Imagine Cup World Championship, which is considered as the ‘Olympics of Technology’ with more than 10,000 participants from 160 countries.

“Having been interested in robotics from a very young age, I started working with prosthetic designs in 2013. But I realised that cosmetic prosthetic hand could cost between ₹1-₹2 lakh while a robotic prosthetic hand was available anywhere between ₹40-₹50 lakh. I knew that affordability was the key. But the meeting with my uncle only strengthened my passion to find an affordable solution,” Zain tells Global Indian.

A robotics enthusiast in the making

The Hyderabad-born moved to Saudi Arabia at a very young age with his project manager father and homemaker mother. When he noticed that his mom was always busy with household chores and raising kids, the then five-year-old Zain promised to make her a robot that would ease her burden. “It was that early that my love for robotics began,” laughs Zain who is currently in India after wrapping up his first-year exams at Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany.

For the Ashoka Young Changemaker 2021, it all started with that one idea and later progressed into in-depth research on the subject. However, things started to move when he began programming at age 12 and within a year, was into prosthetic designs. “For me it’s a two-step process. I visualise the product in my head first, and then make it with a cardboard. Back then 3D printing was booming but was also expensive. To cut the cost, I reached out to Make India, a 3D printing company in Saudi Arabia who sent the code free of cost after hearing about the purpose behind it,” says the innovator whose biggest takeaway from the incident was “to never stop asking.”

How passion turned into a mission

The passion turned into a mission after the chance encounter with his paralysed uncle which led him to create ExoHeal. “It was upsetting to see that despite technological advancement in the world, nothing was done to help him move around.” This nudged Zain to build a device based on the concept of neuroplasticity. Divided into a sensory glove for the functional hand and an exoskeletal robotic hand for the paralysed hand, the first prototype came into existence post extensive research and innumerable meetings with neuroscientists and physiotherapists.

Zain Samdani

During his research, the Global Teen Leader 2019 found that “the patients were frustrated with the system and had given up hope.” This made Zain even more determined to give them a “sense of independence” and do things on their own, and led to the creation of Neuro-ExoHeal which helps a paralysed hand replicate a movement made by the functional hand. “The mirroring allows the neuron to trick the brain into believing that the paralysed hand is working perfectly, thus forming new neural connections.”

The earliest prototype made him one of the 16 global finalists at the Google Science Fair in 2016, and later the advanced version recreated the magic in 2019. “My uncle could feel the sensation on the very first day of using Neuro-ExoHeal. It’s something that otherwise takes weeks or months to achieve,” Zain beams with pride as his creation is on its way to a proper clinical trial in the next few months. “Pandemic in 2020 pushed the plans but now we are back on track,” says the innovator who is happy with the initial response from many patients. “Seeing it work, many have been enquiring as to when it will be launched in the market.”

Looking for a silver lining, always

Zain, who began as innovator and later moved to entrepreneurship, calls the journey transformative. “It essentially enabled me to look outward – to see what was going around me and make the right connection,” reveals Zain who wants to make a two-fold impact. “I want to enable paralysed patients to regain independence and also want to work in the space of mental health.”

The entrepreneur feels that overachievers like him are often under pressure to outdo themselves, and this takes a toll on mental health. It hit him hard in 2018 when was diagnosed with intermittent exotropia, a rare medical condition that doubles your vision every two or three hours. “It happened right before my boards and my studies were affected. My brain would shut down every few minutes due to constant doubling of my vision.” Not one to give up, amidst the chaos, Zain decided to find the silver lining. “It gave me time to think about myself and that’s when my raw artistic expression came out. I have been a painter but this break gave me time to explore my passions beyond innovation,” says the innovator who recovered completely within two years with the help of rehabilitation. A poet and a painter, Zain loves unwinding with board games. For him, life is about knowing yourself but most importantly, making a positive impact that can change people’s lives.

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Published on 10, Jun 2022

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Swinging his best: Indian Golfer Hardik Chawda is aiming for the big shot

(April 2, 2022) As a child, Hardik S Chawda would often wonder where his father Sunil would go early each morning. One such morning in 2008 when Hardik was eight, he insisted on accompanying his father and Sunil drove him straight to the golf course. “This is where I come every morning,” the businessman told his son, who scanned the golf course with excitement. That was also the first time he held a golf club. Today, at 21, Hardik is at his golfing best. He recently became the first from the Hyderabad Golf Association and Telangana to crack the professional golf tour of India's "B" card, on his first attempt. Hardik achieved this feat at the PGTI qualifying school which was held in Ahmedabad at Kalhaar Blue and Greens golf course in February this year. [caption id="attachment_13785" align="aligncenter" width="469"] Hardik S Chawda[/caption] His driving force “My dad introduced me to golf. He often told me to focus on one sport and indulge in it with complete dedication. So I chose golf over everything,” smiles Hardik, speaking with Global Indian. He went through the pre-qualifying events out of which 130 qualified for the final stage. "After four days of competition, the

ge in it with complete dedication. So I chose golf over everything,” smiles Hardik, speaking with Global Indian. He went through the pre-qualifying events out of which 130 qualified for the final stage. "After four days of competition, the top 40 made the 'A' card and those who finished 41 to 80 got the 'B' card. I finished 51st," says the beaming golfer. With an 'A' card, one can play all the events irrespective of the prize money at stake while the 'B' card holders will get to participate in fewer events. Nonetheless the 'B' card gives him access to about 20 tournaments across the country and he will also be eligible to play tourneys in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.

"It was a great week for me and kind of a mixed bag. After the third day, I was doing well and in contention for the 'A' card. But during the final round, I had two bad holes which denied me a top 40 finish and I slipped to 51,” says the young golfer about the recent tournament.

What it takes

"One of the key aspects in this sport is patience. At my level of game, it is all about your mental strength,” says Hardik, a BCom final year student of St Mary’s college in Yousufguda, Hyderabad. He is now completely focussed on his game, putting in many hours of practice, shaping his game to the best.

The youngster says that you either win or lose a tournament with your decision making. "On a professional tour, everyone has a good swing, short game and able putting. A player who makes the right decisions on the course and plays with a very relaxed and confident mindset wins,” says the professional golfer, who has 14 clubs in his 'arsenal' besides other equipment. “Golf equipment is quite expensive and not affordable to most but I'm very thankful to my parents who support me," he says.

Practice makes perfect

Hardik spends anywhere between six to eight hours on his full golf days, which includes close to two hours of fitness. “I do try to play every day except for the days when I have an exam or other academic commitments,” says the Hyderabad-born lad, who studied in Delhi Public School. During lockdown and post lockdown, when there was no golfing, he assisted his father in their chemical business. “But now that I have turned pro, I barely get any time.” The Chawda family originally belongs to Gujarat but have settled in Hyderabad for decades.

[caption id="attachment_13787" align="aligncenter" width="638"] Hardik S Chawda with his family[/caption]

He says fitness plays a huge role in professional golfing. “Golf is no more for a short hitter. Everyone now understands the importance of fitness and how it can benefit their game and we see players hitting more than 320- 330 yards of carry distance,” says Hardik. His workout comprises warm up stretches which he does before he leaves to play. Upon return, he does foam rolling just to release and relax the whole body. “I also do a little bit of meditation before my rounds. I try to eat healthy and avoid oily and junk food as much as I can,” informs the golfer, who likes to play cricket and basketball with friends in his free time besides watching adventure or rom-coms on Netflix and other OTT platforms.

So what are Hardik’s future plans? “Firstly, I want to play well on the Professional Golf Tour Of India this year. Thereafter, I aim to move on to the Asian Tour, European tour and ultimately the PGA tour. For me nothing matters until I'm on the PGA tour. It's like a dream come true for me competing against the world's top golfers,” smiles the golfer, who is hoping he would compete against the greatest golfer of all times Tiger Woods himself one day. He credits his coach Sanjay Kumar Singh (Hyderabad), Jesse Grewal (Chandigarh), Muneer sir (fitness coach Hyderabad) and Sagar Diwan (fitness Coach Chandigarh). "Importantly, my whole family supported me and backed me throughout," says Hardik, for whom the Hyderabad Golf Association has been his home club, since he started his golf career from there.

Reading Time: 6 min

Madhalasa Iyer: The Princeton student merging literature and science to change mindsets

(March 15, 2024) Indian-origin, Texas-based Madhalasa Iyer was appalled when she learned that in her district, a 13-year-old African-American boy was forced by his peers to drink his own urine. They even recorded the inhuman incident while yelling racial slurs at the victim. As she read the news and discussed the hate crime with her friends, Madhalasa learned of many more instances of discrimination and racism in her own district. In 2019, to help change societal mindsets, she founded Team Motley, an initiative emphasising the importance of solidarity for human equality. As part of her drive, she wrote a book titled 'Motley' to drive home the message of social equality. Later, the scope of her organisation expanded to include advocacy for environmental action. In addition to her work on social discrimination and the environment crisis, Madhalasa is working on a manuscript on phytomedicine to emphasise the benefits of ancient medicinal techniques. [caption id="attachment_36623" align="aligncenter" width="539"] Madhalasa Iyer[/caption] The author, researcher, speaker, and environmentalist has received several awards for her multifaceted talent, including recognition for her writing by the Alliance for Artists and Writers and the New York Life Foundation, as one of the six teen artists and writers chosen across

er | Global Indian" width="539" height="539" /> Madhalasa Iyer[/caption]

The author, researcher, speaker, and environmentalist has received several awards for her multifaceted talent, including recognition for her writing by the Alliance for Artists and Writers and the New York Life Foundation, as one of the six teen artists and writers chosen across the US.

In 2023, as one of the Coca-Cola Scholars, Madhalasa Iyer was awarded a $20,000 college scholarship for her contributions to bring positive change in her community. She is currently pursuing neuroscience at Princeton University.

“I work on things that I am genuinely passionate about and this keeps me motivated,” Madhalasa tells Global Indian.

What does Team Motley do?

As an international initiative, Team Motley distributes books, stories, and artworks promoting acceptance, inclusion, and biodiversity to children and youth worldwide. These materials are created by teenagers who aim to share positive messages on these themes with children across the globe.

“We started by publishing our own children’s book, Motley, which discusses discrimination on a broader level, seeking to combat racism and bias in our society,” Madhalasa shares.

She and her team have successfully established Team Motley’s chapters in Texas and Washington State in the US, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and Ismailia and Cairo in Egypt.

Talking about Motley’s other branch, environmental advocacy, Madhalasa remarks, “It was already a big part of my life considering I grew up watching my grandmother build our own greenhouse. I have participated in environmental advocacy since 2018 but added it to Team Motley in 2022.”

[caption id="attachment_36605" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Cover image of Madhalasa Iyer's book Motley[/caption]

Supported by grants from nonprofits such as Discovery Education, American Service Alliance, the Hershey Foundation, USC Shoah, and the National Century Foundation, as well as through community fundraising, Team Motley now has more than 2,500 participants in five countries.

Emphasising on changing mindsets for making life of youngsters easier, Madhalasa remarks, “Children are often the most susceptible to society’s opinions and social influences. Therefore, building a community of acceptance will promote inclusion for future generations, regardless of their skin colour or ethnic background.”

For its impactful work, her Team Motley has received several awards and recognition from organisations such as the Plano ISD Diversity and Inclusion Board.

Madhalasa attributes the success of her initiatives to her team members at Team Motley.

Merging science with writing

Although Madhalasa is currently pursuing Neuroscience at Princeton, she is passionate about creative writing as well. She has attended the Iowa Young Writers Studio and the Sarah Lawrence Writing Camp (sponsored by the National Anthony Quinn Foundation with a merit-based scholarship). In these programmes, the budding writer got an opportunity to develop her writing skills by garnering tips and advice from the luminaries from the world of writing.

Merging her interest in science and her passion for writing, Madhalasa Iyer has published scientific work at IEEE, Journal of Student Research, Mentoring in Medicine Journal, and the Curieux Academic Journal.

[caption id="attachment_36611" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Madhalasa Iyer while receiving an award[/caption]

With the purpose of bringing the benefits of phytomedicine (herbal medicine with therapeutic and healing properties) to the fore; she is working on a manuscript on the subject. “It explores use of phytomedicine techniques in the ancient Chinese traditional medicinal practices, Vedic Indian scriptures, Native American treatments and mediaeval medicine practices,” she mentions.

An avid researcher, Madhalasa has presented her scientific research findings at esteemed platforms like the International SusTech Conference, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Southern California Undergraduate Conference (SCCUR), the Harvard Research Club at NYC, the Harvard Science Research Conference, and the Texas Science and Humanities Symposium. She has also given talks at TEDx and EarthX (world's largest green gathering held annually around Earth Day in Dallas, Texas).

ALSO READ | Sejal Akerkar: The Seattle poetess who donates her books’ royalties to the needy

Writing for change

For her work as an author, environmentalist and social justice advocate Madhalasa has been recognised by national organisations of the US like the Discovery Education, YoungArts, Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, Leyla Beban Author’s Foundation, Anthony Quinn Foundation, Century Foundation, University of Washington, New York Life Foundation, National Rifle Association (NRA), the Coca-Cola Foundation, and Elks Organization among others.

Her literary works (prose and poetry) have been published in journals like the Cathartic Literary Magazine, The Weight Journal, Scars Publications, Literary Yard, Poetry Nation, Plain View Magazine, Bluefire Magazine, amongst others.

The numerous awards and recognition that she received for writing, has motivated Madhalasa in using the power of the pen to cultivate change. “Each of us have the ability to use our words or work of art to illustrate positive messages and ideas to our community and we should use it” she mentions.

[caption id="attachment_36610" align="aligncenter" width="423"] Madhalasa Iyer after receiving one of her awards[/caption]

Stronger than Hate Challenge

In 2021 when Madhalasa was still in high school, she bagged first place and won a $6000 scholarship in the ‘Stronger Than Hate Challenge’. Created to inspire middle school and high school students, the annual competition is conducted for students aged 13 and up in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.

Since the event emphasises the role of social-emotional learning in empowering students to overcome hate, and encourages young people to use their voices to connect with the community, Madhalasa had got interested in participating.

Inspired by, Madhalasa had created the multimedia poem titled ‘Where Were You’ emphasising the significance of standing up for what’s right in order to stop history from repeating itself.

“If we can all speak out against discrimination, our war on division the holocaust survivor Tamara Branitsky is won and acts such as genocide and atrocities would only be present in the pages of history,” Madhalasa believes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n0s0fmVH-s

Rising above odds

Although the Texas-based youngster has written several literary pieces and scientific research papers, and given talks at platforms like EarthX and TEDx, her journey of developing into a confident communicator has not been a smooth ride.

She was born in California but spent the first eight years of her life in Nepal and India. As an eight-year-old with a strong Indian accent, when Madhalasa moved to the US, she was looked down upon for her cadence and tone. “During my early schooling years, I struggled at grammar and writing tests. It took me years of continual accent therapy to rebuild the confidence that I had lost,” Madhalasa shares. But a creative bent of mind, dedication towards self-improvement, and love for reading kept her going in her self-enhancement initiatives.

“A combination of determination and support from my parents, family, and friends enabled me to overcome my speech and writing challenges, ultimately paving a way for me to become an author and a speaker,” she remarks.

[caption id="attachment_36609" align="aligncenter" width="645"] Madhalasa Iyer with Scholastic Art and Writing Awards[/caption]

With the attitude and experience of rising above challenges, Madhalasa Iyer aspires to create a world ‘where equality isn’t a question and where people sow the seeds of environmental action for the betterment of the future generation’. “As a citizen of the world, I wish to be an active contributor towards these changes.” She signs off.

Follow Madhalasa Iyer on LinkedIn

Reading Time: 5 mins

8-year-old Indian scuba diver Tharaagai Aarathana’s deep dive into marine conservation

(February 22, 2022) "Pristine water, a school of colourful fishes swimming in synchronicity, a jellyfish floating away to the surface, and a dugong resting in water," are some of eight-year-old Indian scuba diver and eco-crusader Tharaagai Aarathana’s earliest memories of snorkelling. She was just three when she first witnessed the beauty of underwater life, but over the years began to understand the grim reality of marine pollution. "Who's responsible for the reduced marine life? It's us! Plastic waste is causing havoc for underwater life, and we should do everything possible to protect it," Tharaagai tells Global Indian in an exclusive interview. Sharing a special bond with the ocean, the eco-warrior, who can dive up to 2 metres, has till now fished out 600kg of plastic waste to help protect marine life. Moreover, she set a record in Assist World Records in January 2022 for swimming a 19km stretch from Covelong to Neelankari to bring attention to the cause of conserving aquatic life. [caption id="attachment_11145" align="aligncenter" width="641"] Tharaagai Aarathana is an Indian scuba diver.[/caption] Bonding with water Before she even began crawling, Tharaagai was smitten by water. "She was just three days old when I started adapting her to water. Every

softTeams-image.jpg" alt="Indian scuba diver | Tharaagai Aarathana" width="641" height="427" /> Tharaagai Aarathana is an Indian scuba diver.[/caption]

Bonding with water

Before she even began crawling, Tharaagai was smitten by water. "She was just three days old when I started adapting her to water. Every day for 10 minutes in the morning and evening, I would make her sit in the water," says her father Aravind Tharunsri, who is a scuba diving instructor. Tharaagai's love for water was a gift to her from her dad, something she has held onto dearly in the last eight years. "I was nine months old when I started floating in the water, and by the time I turned two-and-a-half, I had begun swimming. Over the years, I have formed a strong bond with water," says the girl who began training for scuba diving in shallow waters when she was five. From learning in a small tub to practicing in the swimming pool, Thaaragai made sure to follow her dad's instructions to the tee. "We played games like collecting coins from the bottom of the tub as a part of the practice session," adds the Class 2 student.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2iE87eSk_I

An eco-crusader in the making

A water baby, Tharaagai loves being in the ocean, and this proximity to the sea has made her aware of marine pollution. "I was three when I started accompanying my father to weekly beach cleanups. Though I didn't understand much back then, I did see a lot of plastic waste on the beaches," says the Chennai resident, who is now an eco-crusader. Thanks to her dad, she learned about ocean pollution while seeing him impart training to the Tamil Nadu Marine Police and fisheries department along with the Wildlife Institute of India a few years ago. "Since I'd be accompanying my dad to the training, I learned how plastic and abandoned nets were adding to the pollution and affecting marine life," explains Tharaagai who has been raising awareness on protecting endangered marine species, especially the Dugong (sea cow).

[caption id="attachment_11150" align="aligncenter" width="758"] Tharaagai Aarathana collecting plastic waste from a beach[/caption]

"During the awareness programs and training, she would absorb all the information. She learned that there are less than 150 dugongs left in India, and decided to save them from plastic pollution. She is creating awareness among kids through presentations in various schools," beams her proud father, who himself has been working closely to protect marine life for many years now. 44-year-old Aravind started South India's first-ever scuba diving center Temple Adventures in Pondicherry in 2007. "Back then, there were only 2-3 scuba diving centres in the country. A chance encounter with two Australian friends in 2004 changed my life forever when they introduced me to scuba diving as a profession. There has been no looking back since then," adds Aravind.

Like father, like daughter

His passion for protecting the environment has rubbed off on his daughter as the two are now working as a team of eco-crusaders. "She has collected over 200 kgs of plastic waste from the ocean bed and 400 kgs from beaches, while I have collected over 15,000 kgs of plastic waste till now. Every week, we clean up the beaches as well as the ocean beds. I then segregate the plastic and send the one that can be upcycled to the recycle plant. While the other is taken care of by the government who dispose of it properly," reveals Aravind.

[caption id="attachment_11148" align="aligncenter" width="677"] Tharaagai Aarathana collecting plastic from ocean bed[/caption]

Tharagaai learned the grim reality of marine pollution when she saw her father bring heaps of plastic waste from the ocean bed to the shore. "Every year scuba divers rescue innumerable marine species that become entangled in the abandoned nets. It breaks my heart to see marine life affected by the waste," says the Indian scuba diver. Too young to rescue the fishes now, she is keen to follow suit when she grows up. "Many fishes get tangled in the ghost nets and often die. Turtles, on the other hand, unintentionally consume plastic as it resembles jellyfish. The pollution is threatening the marine ecosystem but we try our best to protect it by cleaning the ocean beds and beaches," adds Aravind, who wants to educate the next generation to feel a greater sense of responsibility towards the environment.

Following in her father’s footsteps, Tharaagai is helping bring attention to conserving marine life. On National Girl Child Day (January 24) this year, she set a record in Assist World Records for swimming a 19-km stretch from Covelong to Neelankari, under the theme Save the Ocean. "She completed it in six hours and fourteen minutes, despite drastic weather changes. It started raining, and the temperature dropped and it got cold. I tried to talk her out of it, but she continued and finished the stretch," says Aravind who was swimming alongside his daughter to motivate her.

[caption id="attachment_11151" align="aligncenter" width="431"] Tharaagai with her parents[/caption]

Tharaagai, who wants to be a scuba diver like her father when she grows up, loves cycling and exercising. Being home-schooled, she enjoys the freedom to travel with her dad to different locations in India and work as an eco-crusader. "Caring for the planet Earth," is the biggest lesson that she has learned in her journey. The eight-year-old, who fishes out plastic waste from the ocean to conserve marine life, is asking people to not use plastic. "Marine life will be safe if you don't use plastic," advises the young Indian scuba diver.

Follow Aravind Tharunsri on Linkedin

Reading Time: 6 min

Young titans: The Telugu champions shaping the Indian sports landscape

(May 24, 2023) In the realm of sports, the Telugu region has become a breeding ground for exceptional talent, producing individuals who have defied odds, shattered barriers, and etched their names in the annals of sporting history. This is a tale that celebrates the indomitable spirit and remarkable achievements of Telugu sports stars. Through their dedication, perseverance, and unwavering determination, these individuals have become beacons of inspiration, captivating the hearts and minds of millions across the nation. Global Indian explores the journeys of badminton champs Gayatri Gopichand and Satwik Rankireddy, boxer Nikhat Zareen, who has carved herself a place in history, athlete Jyothi Yarraji who battled great odds to rise to break the national record and the decorated young US-golfer Sahith Theegala, who copes with scoliosis but never lets it hamper his game. Nikhat Zareen [caption id="attachment_30395" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Nikhat Zareen[/caption] "Who is Nikhat Zareen?" The Olympian's dismissive response to the then 22-year-old Zareen cut the young boxer quite deeply. Zareen was already a Youth World Champion and wanted the Indian Boxing Federation to conduct trials for the Olympic team selections. Kom, who was looking forward to what would likely be her final rendezvous with the Olympics, was not happy,

o the then 22-year-old Zareen cut the young boxer quite deeply. Zareen was already a Youth World Champion and wanted the Indian Boxing Federation to conduct trials for the Olympic team selections. Kom, who was looking forward to what would likely be her final rendezvous with the Olympics, was not happy, snubbing Zareen for her request. Still, Zareen refused to show weakness. She had always been used to fighting great odds - she is from Telangana, a region without a boxing culture unlike Manipur or Haryana. She was also a Muslim - female Muslim boxers don't come around too often in India.

Today, Nikhat Zareen is a two-time world champion, the winner of the gold at the 2011 AIBA Women's Youth & Junior World Boxing Championships, the 2022 Istanbul and 2023 New Delhi IBA Women's World Boxing Championships. She also bagged the gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Born on June 14, 1996 to Mohammad Jameel Ahmed and Parveen Sultana in Nizamabad, Zareen studied at Nirmala Hrudaya Girls' High School. It was her father, Jameel, who introduced her to boxing and trained her for a year. "It's true that not everyone in the neigbourhood or even the family were supportive. They would say it is wrong and it would spoil her marriage prospects. But I never let Nikhat worry about these things. I wanted her to do her best. People always talk. If you stop and listen to what everyone has to say, you won't go very far," Jameel said.

As she progressed, there weren't too many girl competitors at her level, and she would go up against older boys. She moved ahead rapidly and at 14, won her first international gold at the Youth World Championships.

Nikhat Zareen is proud of her roots and her faith, performing a sajdah at the New Delhi World Championships and saying that she would use her prize money to send her parents on the Haj pilgrimage. "I come from a middle class family. I come from a minority community where girls don't always get the opportunity to take up sports. Boxing has given me freedom," Zareen said.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy

[caption id="attachment_30396" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Satwiksairaj Rankireddy[/caption]

In 2018, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy stormed their way to a historic victory at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, bagging a gold at the Mixed Team event and the men's double silver. That year, they also won top honours in the Hyderabad Open BWF Tour Super 100 tournament, beating their Akbar Bintang and Reza Pahlevi Isfahani from Indonesia.

Rankireddy was born in Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, into a family legacy. His father was a state-level player, as was his older brother, both of whom inspired him to begin playing. In 2014, he enrolled at the Pullela Gopichand Academy and became a doubles specialist. In 2016, his coach, Kim Tan Her paired him with Chirag Shetty, creating a winning team.

The duo has won five international series titles. Rankireddy also has a strong partnership with Ashwini Ponnappa in the mixed doubles category. They began 2022 by winning the Indian Open and were part of India's Thomas Cup team, a victory achieved through great determination, as they started out by losing the first game.

Rankireddy was given the Arjuna Award for badminton in August 2020.

Gayatri Gopichand

[caption id="attachment_30397" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Gayatri Gopichand[/caption]

From the moment she decided on a career in badminton, Gayatri Gopichand had very big shoes to fill. Both her parents are renowned shuttlers - her father, Pullela Gopichand won the England Open Badminton Championships in 2001, the second Indian after Prakash Padukone. Her mother, P.V.V. Lakshmi, is an eight-time Indian national Telugu champion and an Olympian who represented India at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She also won the bronze at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

Gayatri entered the fray with the best kind of backing, including being able to enroll at her parents' state-of-the-art academy, the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy. She was initiated early and had the chance to observe and even train with India's reigning champs like Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu.

By the age of 15, Gayatri had an all-India ranking of No. 1 in the under-17 age group in India. In 2018, she became the youngest member to be part of an Indian Asian Games badminton contingent and went with them to the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games, although she didn't actually get any game-time that year.

Until the pandemic, Gayatri had trained as a singles player. In 2021, however, acting on the advice of her father and coach, Arun Vishnu, she tried the doubles game, teaming up with Treesa Jolly. "When the coaches saw our game styles, they thought that putting us together was the best," Gayatri told The Hindu. That year, they became runners-up at the Polish International and their star only rose from there, as they reached the Syed Modi International final in 2022 and bagged the BWF World Tour Title.

"Now, I feel I can play anyone. Off Court, they are all legends and all but on court, everyone is equal and you just have to give your best," Gayatri said.

Jyothi Yarraji

[caption id="attachment_30398" align="aligncenter" width="387"] Jyothi Yarraji[/caption]

Jyothi was in class 10 when she took her first strides towards being an athlete. She had no idea how she would go about it, either. It was a late start and a far-fetched idea for a poor girl in Vishakapatnam. "My father is a security guard and my mother is a cleaner in hospitals. I'd always been told the path to come out of that was through studies." In class 10, encouraged by her P.E teacher, she decided to give it a go.

She started out with a pair of inexpensive jogging shoes (spikes were out of the question) and just a few months into formal training, won a gold in the state-level 100m. "I used to feel good when I started running. It made me feel like I didn't have time to waste. It made me feel that I was doing something important," Jyothi said. Still, her decision was looked upon with great disapproval. The neighbours raised their eyebrows because she was "being sent to run outside. Why is she running in knickers and a banian? Why is she talking to boys," they would ask. Her mother stood by her.

Today, the Telugu champion hurdler holds the national record of 13.04 seconds, which she broke three times in 2022. She also represented India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and at the Indian National Games that year, won the gold in the 100-metres and the 100-metres hurdles. In October, Jyothi became the first Indian woman hurdler to clock below 13 seconds. She did even better in 2023, breaking the national record for the 60-metres hurdle five times. She also won the Silver in the 2023 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships at Astana.

Sahith Theegala

[caption id="attachment_14860" align="aligncenter" width="1440"] Sahith Theegala[/caption]

Only two weeks ago, in May 2023, Sahith Theegala made headlines for a superb left-handed shot at the Wells Fargo Championship at the 16th hole. It was a perfect shot and the audience roared its approval, more so because Sahith Theegala is not left-handed. "Absolutely fantastic," the commentators said and even Theegala's caddie was impressed.

The US-based golfer, who hails from Hyderabad, has had a strong year, making his presence felt on the PGA Tour as he rose from outside 300 to 30 in the Official World Golf Rankings.

Theegala had always loved the sport, even as a child, and even though he suffers from scoliosis (a curvature of the spine). A the age of five and six, he would cry when it was time to leave the golf course. At the age of six, he won the Junior World Championship and went to study at Pepperdine University, known for its sports teams. In January 2020, he won the Haskins Award, the Ben Hogan Award and the Jack Niklaus Award, becoming the fifth player in the history of US golf to win all three Player of the Year honours.

Young Innovator Hemesh Chadalavada’s unique invention monitors Alzheimer patients

(March 7, 2022) When Hyderabad boy 15-year-old Hemesh Chadalavada saw how disoriented his Alzheimer-suffering grandmother was, he felt helpless. The young innovator worked on a Stem-based app and wearable device that would not only monitor her movements, but also give families a respite from the endless worry. [embed]https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1353690264343220224?s=20&t=fQeXi7ZraOmLTwshDgc5ig[/embed] The young innovator received the Pradhan Mantri Rastriya Bal Shakti Puraskar 2021 for his unique invention. His device, Alpha Monitor, signals caregivers and family members when a patient wanders off, and also sends vital stats, thus helping in the care of such patients. How concern led to innovation “Alzheimer’s is similar to forgetfulness; it destroys memories and other brain functions. My grandmother is one amongst many suffering from the disease. A study reveals that every 30 seconds, one individual in the world develops symptoms of Alzheimer’s. This is a huge problem that I wanted to solve,” says the young innovator in a conversation with Global Indian. Since aged six, Hemesh was captivated with the internet, “I remember watching many YouTube videos about arts and crafts. I used to put my learned skills into practice often. Soon, I started working on basic electronic projects like building electronic cars, fans, etc. By the time

ned skills into practice often. Soon, I started working on basic electronic projects like building electronic cars, fans, etc. By the time I was in my fifth grade, I learned coding and progressed onto more useful projects,” the young innovator explains.

[caption id="attachment_11997" align="aligncenter" width="693"] Hemesh Chadalavada[/caption]

His visits to his grandmother in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh opened his eyes to her struggles. “I realised that one of the biggest problems with my grandmother was that she used to wander off early morning or late at night, and the family and caregivers were left worried. We were fortunate that she didn’t get lost,” says the young innovator, who was intrigued enough to reach out to the Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India. There, he came across a family that had been in search of a loved one, an Alzheimer’s patient, for the past 20 years. “It was sad, they had given up hope. I thought why not develop something that would impact people around me like my grandmother,” says the Hyderabad-based Stem aspirant. He then went on to create a device that gave doctors, caregivers and family real-time information on their loved ones.

Thinking differently

Alpha Monitor’s first prototype was a wrist band that detected a patient’s movements – whether asleep, standing or walking. “I spent the 2019 summer on building a prototype to test out the concept. It is different from other products in the market. Other devices have not integrated a sensor called a gyroscope which I have,” smiles the young innovator.

[caption id="attachment_11998" align="aligncenter" width="647"] Hemesh with Governor of Telangana, Tamilisai Soundrarajan[/caption]

“Existing devices are similar to a GPS tracker around the neck that patients can easily remove, and are prone to breakage. Some devices like doormats detect if a patient steps on it but are chunky, and can be bypassed. My innovation is based on an algorithm gyroscope model that reflects even if a person rolls on the bed, or places his hands on the floor. It alerts when the patient gets up, and starts wandering through a phone call, unlike just a phone alert, that other products offer,” adds the Jubilee Hills Public School student.

A health monitor too

As his grandmother required regular checkups, which were tough due to her uncontrolled movements, Hemesh’s remote healthcare system bridged a huge gap. Data related to her pulse, heartbeat etc could be sent to a doctor at intervals. “I developed an android app that the doctor could download which connected to the gyroscope device via bluetooth,” smiles the young innovator.

[caption id="attachment_11999" align="aligncenter" width="605"] Hemesh Chadalavada[/caption]

Initially, the device was a wristband. Experts at ARDSI suggested a coin-sized reduction and customisation so it could be used as a wrist or leg band, or pinned on. They loved his useful tech-based solution.

Recognitions and inspirations

The young innovator won at Ideate for India - out of 1,33,000 students, he was among 50 chosen. Recipient of the Macmillan Budding Scientist Award, the Bal Shakti Puraskar was most precious, "I am honoured to receive the award. It is special because it is a recognition from the government of India, which motivates me to do impactful work."

[caption id="attachment_12000" align="aligncenter" width="713"] Hemesh with Former Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad[/caption]

Hemesh’s parents Kishore and Sandhya have been hugely encouraging. “They have been supportive throughout, even when I was working on my little arts and crafts projects in class 1,” he smiles. The Telangana State Innovation Cell serves as his role model, inspiring him to innovate. Hemesh is working on a startup - CreatoWise.com, a hub for YouTubers following in the footsteps of his BBA brother and homemaker mother who run a channel 'Simplify Your Home with Sandhya' with over 5 lakh subscribers.

[caption id="attachment_12001" align="aligncenter" width="673"] Hemesh with his family[/caption]

Internet, coding, and math are his passions. “Internet is a huge knowledge bank. People should not just be passive users but apply the knowledge. If one watches coding videos, they can be applied to gain knowledge in developing new projects. My favorite subject - math requires one to apply fundamentals. Since, I am not a fan of memorising, coding and building projects fit perfectly,” says Hemesh, who sees himself as an entrepreneur empowering the world with powerful innovations in the years to come.

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