Until she was four, nobody realized she couldn’t hear, and by the time her condition was diagnosed, the world had already raced far ahead of her. When she was finally fitted with hearing aids, the doctors warned her family that the journey ahead would require immense patience.

“Whatever you say will initially mean nothing to her—it’s just noise,” they explained. For Amaira, the sounds of the world were entirely foreign, and adjusting to them was far from easy.

She underwent countless speech therapy sessions, where she had to start with the most basic building blocks—naming emotions like happy, sad, or angry. While other children were learning to construct sentences, Amaira was catching up on the fundamentals of communication.

But Amaira fought through it all. With determination and support, she slowly began to bridge the gap, catching up to her peers and finding her place in a world that moves at its own rapid pace.

However, the challenges did not stop there. During the Covid-19 outbreak, when the world shifted to online learning, for Amaira, virtual classrooms were isolating and alienating.

Her family quickly realized that traditional education was failing to cater to her needs. In 2020, they made the brave decision to homeschool her, giving her the space to learn and grow on her own terms. This period became a turning point in Amaira’s life. Her love for sports blossomed. From archery and basketball to skating, Amaira proved to be a true sportsman at heart, with a special fondness for yoga and golf.

Amaira Pusalkar and her family. (Express Photo)

It was yoga that captured her heart. Introduced to the practice by her mother, Pooja Pusalkar, a fitness enthusiast and IT professional, Amaira found strength in it. What began as a way to build confidence and physical endurance quickly transformed into a passion. Under the guidance of her coach, a national-level Mallakhamba player, Amaira embraced the rigorous training with enthusiasm.

When asked if it ever became difficult, her face lit up with a smile as she declared, “No, I love it! It’s very exciting.”

Within just six months of training, Amaira competed at the district level, earning a silver medal. Fueled by her dedication, she progressed to the state championship, where she claimed gold.

“I want to win international,” she says with a quiet but firm determination that belies her age.

Whether perfecting her golf shot or practicing her asanas at dawn, Amaira pours her heart into everything she does. Her mother marvels at her perseverance: “She’s very hardworking and persistent. Every milestone she achieves is because of her determination.”

Her success is also a testament to the relentless support of her family. Her mother, Pooja, who balances a demanding career at Barclays Bank with her passion for fitness, credits Amaira for inspiring her to practice yoga daily.

“Physical health drives mental health and vice versa,” says Pooja, reflecting on how yoga has brought the family closer.

Amaira’s grandmother, Anita Pusalkar, a homemaker and wife of former Navy Captain Rajiv Pusalkar, who once served as a Defense Attaché in Indonesia, echoes this sentiment.

“A medium level of compassion is required everywhere. If you are compassionate, half the battle is won,” she says.

Amaira now studies at Symbiosis International School, where she finds herself in an environment that is not just inclusive but also deeply supportive of her needs.

As she prepares for the first-ever Para Yoga Nationals, which will take place in Ghaziabad, Amaira’s story contains a message she and her family hope to share with other parents: Acceptance is the foundation for growth.

Her mother, Pooja, passionately conveys this lesson: “Acceptance is the first step in life. Once you embrace your child’s reality, you can begin to find solutions and help them flourish.”

With her sights firmly set on the international stage, the journey for her and her family is also about breaking barriers and changing perspectives.

“The problem is not with people who are born special. The problem is with those who see them as special,” says Pooja. “The minute you change that lens, things become normal.”