KANPUR, Oct. 1 -- Every evening at a small table tennis hall in Jankipuram, the sound of the ball striking the paddle echoes steadily. At one end of the table stands Archana Pandey, Lucknow's only two-time hearing-impaired Olympian paddler, training tirelessly for her third Deaf Olympics in Tokyo this November. Yet, while Uttar Pradesh's sports policy rewards para athletes, it makes no mention of deaf athletes, leaving Archana without financial support or a secure job. Behind her determination lies a story of struggle, silence, and survival.

Archana, 34, has represented India twice on the world stage, finishing fifth in Turkey and Brazil. This time, she dreams of a podium finish. "I have won more than a dozen medals, but I still run my h...