Tinkesh Kaushik grew up in Jhajjar District, Haryana and was a very active kid whose favorite hobby was flying his kite. One day, in 2002, he was out for a casual evening, playing with friends, when his kite was caught in High tension wire. When the nine-year-old tried to retrieve his favorite toy, he was electrocuted Eleven thousand volts of electricity. The accident resulted in doctors having to amputate his left arm and legs, as they were irreparably charred.
His parents were told that he was unlikely to survive, but they refused to listen. My mom and dad have been my biggest support during this time. It was their will that kept me alive and helped me survive this accident,” says Tenkesh, adding that his family did their best to ensure he was back to his usual routine.
I had to undergo treatment for three years. All this time, my mother would carry me in her arms and take me to school. I had to sit in class all day. I couldn’t play with my friends or do anything other kids my age would do. It was a tough situation, but my friends were also very supportive and spent time with me, which made me feel better,” says Tincksch.
Fitness trainer Tenkesh Kaushik had an accident as a child, which resulted in doctors amputating three of his limbs.
Photo: Instagram / tinkeshkaushik
Despite facing financial hurdles, his parents got a prosthetic leg in 2012. After that he started moving independently. “I wasn’t allowed to do any strenuous physical activity, but I was able to travel to college on my own,” he says.
After graduating in 2015, Tinkesh spent a year trying to find a job, but without much success. He also says he found a file Lack of physical exercise Due to forced inactivity led to his weight gain.
“I decided to focus on my fitness and started learning about my body and the things it can do. I heard people around me talking about not being able to do any kind of work, but I focused on improving my physical activity without paying attention to them,” says Tenkesh.
The turning point came when the Hyderabad-based Aditya Mehta Foundation for Prosthetic Legs sponsored him. The sponsorship came after Tinkesh uploaded a video of a two kilometer marathon that he participated in on Gandhi Jayanti and went viral. In the video, Tinkesh made a plea to get prosthetics.
From that moment on, Tinkesh said he started Focusing on his fitness journey I started swimming and cycling. Tinkesh, who had dreamed of representing India in the Paralympics in cycling, had to give up that dream because it was too expensive.
“At this point I was introduced to you FITTR in PuneAnd I decided to become a fitness coach. I started training under the supervision of coaches there. They really pushed me to help me achieve my fitness goals.”
Tenkes says his parents have been his biggest support and never let him give up.
Photo: Instagram / tinkeshkaushik
There were challenges along the way and Tenkes suffered from knee and shoulder injuries. He was frustrated but the coaches kept cheering him on. “Thanks to them I was able to reach my goals and even participate in the FITTR Transformation Challenge for the first time this year after introducing a category for people with special abilities. It was encouraging to see so many people taking part in the challenge.”
Tinkesh says this is just the beginning of his adventure. “My fitness journey has just begun, and I have been hired Sports Ambassador – ICN India. I will participate in all their shows, and I will raise my fitness levels. In June, I will be leaving for Ladakh and volunteering to teach people with disabilities through my life experiences. I also dream of climbing mountains in Australia later this year.”
Tinckish says he is fortunate to have impacted the lives of so many through his fitness journey. He often receives mail from the people he has inspired. He says his mother has been his biggest inspiration and support. “He has been a driving force throughout my journey. My coach Kamal Sharma is the other important person behind my transformation. His steadfast belief in me and his dedicated dedication to my cause has helped me stay motivated.”
Although a lot has been achieved, Tinkesh feels there is a need for more access to fitness facilities for people with disabilities. “Trainers do not want to care for people in wheelchairs or amputees. Gyms are not equipped to handle the disabled, and trainers lack knowledge of inclusion. Last month, I was denied entry to a gym in Pune, a phenomenon that is widespread across India.
Being a disabled person, I had to discover different ways to train myself. I didn’t get any help until after meeting my trainer Kamal Sharma. He shared several videos that helped me use my single arms to achieve full core strength. “I reached my full potential because of people like him,” he says.
To prove that there are no limits to what he can do, Tinkesh holds the record for being the first Asian triple amputee to bungee jump at the Canyon Swing in Nepal, at a distance of 160 metres.
He has also fulfilled his dream of becoming a fitness trainer in Pune, helping people with disabilities and non-disabled people. Thinking of his journey, says Tenkesh, “The opportunities I’ve been dreaming of come to me without asking. My potential is unleashed, my accomplishments are recognized and appreciated; that in itself is very empowering.”
