Striking the perfect balance

At the age of 11, an accident left Channakeshava (Keshav) Jayaram without his right hand. It was a time of immense pain and panic at the uncertainty this would bring.

A born right-hander, Keshav was overwhelmed with the thought of even the simplest of tasks like writing and taking his exams, to mingling with school friends in the playground.

“I thought, ‘how can I transform my writing from my right hand to my left? How will I play cricket at school?’”

But with a persistent and willing frame of mind, Keshav never thought about giving up.

Slowly but surely those skills transferred across to his left hand and he began to excel in school and on the field. It ignited a passion for sport and a sense of purpose that would see Keshav become a lifelong athlete.

The role of sport in recovery

Sport became a constant in Keshav’s life as both a source of entertainment with friends and a means of physical recovery and mental wellbeing.

“Sports, for me, will cure everything. It keeps me active, it helps me with time management, efficiency and concentration. But most importantly it keeps me learning. I will never quit learning with sport,” Keshav says.

His dedication was backed up by noticeable talent. After being selected to train with the Paralympic Federation of India, an organisation responsible for selecting athletes to represent India at the Paralympic Games and other international sporting events, Keshav started his professional sporting journey at just 16.

“They took me to all sorts of events and practice sessions. Organising travel, training and aligning us with the best coaches.”

Achievements in athletics and beyond

By 18, Keshav was the first participant from India to compete in long jump and the 100 metre sprint in the 2003 Junior Asian Games in Hong Kong. He won both bronze and silver medals, a true moment of pride and an illustration of how far he’d come.

“I had officially become an international athlete. All of my training and hard work was being recognised by the world.”

For the next 10 years Keshav would prove to be a formidable force in the athletics arena before expanding his skills into badminton.

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“My athletics background helped me immensely with badminton. It’s such a fast-paced game, so having that high base level of athleticism really helped. In 2021, I was honoured to represent India at a Para Badminton Tournament in Uganda. This was the highest achievement in my badminton career.”

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The pursuit of new challenges

Always open to new experiences, Keshav was keen to pursue a new sporting challenge.

“In India, tenpin bowling isn’t very big in the sporting world – it’s more for entertainment. But I was keen to pursue it on a professional level. How does the game work? What skills do I need to acquire to become the best?”

It wasn’t long before tenpin bowling became another passion project. In 2018, he qualified for the Asian Para Games in Jakarta as the first tenpin bowler to represent India.

“I enjoy the challenge of something new. But I also enjoy giving those skills back to my community. It is an honour to represent India and to give back to my country,” Keshav says. “It’s a sport with little experience and funding, so I’m doing what I can to help it grow for athletes of all abilities. I want others to enjoy sports like badminton and tenpin bowling.”

Keshav will be participating in the 2025 World Championship for tenpin bowling in Hong Kong.

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Support is paramount

Keshav says he could not have achieved sporting success without the support and sacrifices of his my wife, children and parents.

“Without their help I wouldn’t be able to work, train, run coaching sessions for children and pursue tenpin bowling six out of the seven days of the week,” Keshav says.

Following in their Dad’s footsteps, Keshav’s two children attend his badminton training sessions – thus instilling a sense of passion and commitment to sport in the next generation.

Keshav’s hectic schedule is also supported by ANZ – using flexible working hours to  start his shifts as a Senior Credit Assessment Officer at the Group Capability Centre in Bengaluru earlier so he can attend training.

“My team is also very supportive, encouraging me to pursue my sporting passions alongside my professional responsibilities.” 

Looking forward

Keshav’s accident left him feeling uncertain about the future. But sport has helped him pave his own path with confidence.

“If I am interested in something I give it my full dedication. This has made me more confident as not just a para-athlete, but in my day-to-day life too. It’s how I live my life,” Keshav says. “I want to give this confidence to future generations, showing kids of all abilities that anything is possible if you are passionate.”

As the 2024 Paris Paralympics commence, Keshav is excited to support the athletics and badminton events, with a keen eye on what sports may eventually grace the Olympic stage.

“It is every athletes’ dream to stand on the Olympic podium, it’s the highest honour an athlete can receive. One day I hope tenpin bowling will make it as a sport in the Olympics and I hope to represent India.”

Alexandra Galea is Editorial Producer at ANZ