NEW DELHI: A three-inch difference in his leg lengths, persistent back pain and other physical problems have forced 29-year-old Kunal Arora to cut his table tennis training by more than half. Yet, the thalassemia major patient and international para table tennis player is set to leave for Finland on August 26 with the Indian team, even as doctors have advised him to get a prosthetic extension to improve his alignment and mobility.The Moradabad athlete has won 27 national and 10 international medals and recently clinched gold at the 1st UTT Para National Ranking Table Tennis Championship 2026-27 in Indore.Arora will also be felicitated on Sunday by the Thalassemia Patients Advocacy Group (TPAG), in collaboration with Thalassemics India, at an event in New Delhi honouring thalassemia patients for their achievements and resilience.Diagnosed with thalassemia major at birth, Arora said severe iron overload led to two major leg surgeries in 2010. The difference developed gradually as he grew after the surgeries, leaving his left leg around three to four inches shorter than the right.A July 22 prescription records a three-inch left-side limb-length discrepancy and recommends an extension prosthesis with an Axion carbon-fibre foot and laminated socket. Arora said the imbalance has caused spinal curvature, persistent back pain and mobility problems, with doctors recommending the device to improve alignment and daily mobility. He said it would also help during training, though it is unclear if he can wear it in competitions. The prosthesis is estimated to cost Rs 2,66,910 including GST, which his family cannot afford.“My father is a small businessman and my mother is a homemaker. I completed my graduation from Delhi University in 2021 and I am continuing with table tennis. I also help my father with his business whenever he needs me,” Kunal told TOI.The physical problems have cut his training from 7-8 hours in two sessions to about 2.5-3.5 hours in one session. “The difference in my leg length causes pain and affects my daily activities as well as my training. I am now hoping for support to get the prosthetic extension, which costs around Rs 2.7 lakh.
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I want to continue playing for India and need this support to manage my mobility and training,” he said.Arora has represented India internationally since 2014 and is seeking sponsorship for international tournaments, which he says would help him compete more frequently and work towards the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Paralympic Games. For now, he is managing without the prosthesis and plans to give his measurements in the first or second week of September. The device is expected to take about a month to prepare.“Life gave me thalassemia major, but also a choice: to be defined by my diagnosis or my determination. I chose the paddle,” Arora said.
